Bloom in Marriage Retreat 2024

(DEADLINE TO REGISTER: MARCH 27, 2023)

Are you looking to enrich a healthy relationship, revitalize a tired one, or rescue one gone awry? Do you yearn to reconnect and grow closer to your spouse? We all want a lifetime of love, support and faith, but sometimes we need a little help. The Bloom in Marriage Retreat Weekend is designed to help couples grow in their faith, learn new tools to strengthen their marriage, inspire hope and rekindle the spark. Relationships under fire may even begin the journey of healing.

This year's theme:

Great Grace! Great Life!

This year’s speakers:

Mike & Lynn Ortel

Having a great relationship with God is great way to live! Mike and Lynn Ortel invite you to explore Great Grace...Great Life, where relevant biblical principles of enjoying life with God and each other are explored. The Ortel's passion for vibrant and healthy connections with God and others is based, not only on their personal challenges and victories of relating to God and people, but also on the professional education in which they have invested. They enjoy presenting the Great Grace offered to each of us, so we can have abundant joy and experience a Great Life and a Great Marriage!

Mike Ortel is an ordained Seventh-day Adventist minister with a master of divinity degree and a master's in public health. He is retired from pastoral and administrative work but is still very active in ministry. He currently is volunteering in the Arizona SDA conference as men's ministries leader. He is also the police chaplain for the Paradise Valley Police Department. Mike lives in Phoenix, AZ, with his wife, Lynn, of 50+ years. They have three married children and six grands. Mike is a loyal leader, husband, father, grandfather and friend. He lives integrity at every level, and is enthusiastic, fun, compassionate and understanding. His greatest joy is sharing the great news of Jesus Christ and how God's great grace results in a great life!!

Lynn Ortel was a registered nurse but chose to be a stay-at-home mom until their three children outgrew homeschooling and entered traditional school. For eight years Lynn was the caretaker for three developmentally disabled women in her home. In later years she earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology, and a master of art’s in counseling. Lynn is now a licensed professional clinical counselor. She has served the Adventist church as a conference director for communications, family ministries, women's ministries, and children's ministries. She is currently volunteering in the Arizona conference as women's ministries director. She has a passion to experience the real and relevant God. Her life's mission statement is "to live a life of love." (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Wayne & Louise Sanders

Also joining the speakers are Wayne and Louise “Lulu” Sanders. They grew up and reside in Canaan, a small town in central Maine during the summer, and spend winters in Orlando, Florida. In May 1981, Wayne and his 2 children and Louise and her 1 daughter, decided to blend their families into what they thought would be one “big, happy family”. They attended their first Caring for Marriage retreat weekend, a few years later without knowing what to expect. The retreat gave them more understanding of each other and basic relationship skills. They feel that this experience set them on the right track and probably saved their marriage. By sharing their struggles and learned skills, it is Wayne and Louise's prayer and desire that other couples may gain insight to avoid similar mistakes on a journey to a truly beautiful, satisfying relationship.

Camp MiVoden - Hayden Lake, Idaho

Our intent is to fortify our oneness in Christ, and improve our understanding of God's ultimate design for a loving marriage, while providing opportunities for creating deeper connections with our spouse.

Please join us for this impactful weekend.

We are praying that this event will honor God and be a blessing to your marriage.

Your Bloom in Marriage hosts,

Steve and Debby Keeton

Follow Bloom in Marriage on Facebook

Notes:

• Register soon. The best rooms will go fast! ;)

• Click the green "REGISTER" button (or the red "TICKETS" button) to see pricing options and to register.

• THIS IS A CAMP, NOT A HOTEL. ;) There are different price options for apartments, guest rooms, cabins, basic dorm rooms (queen, double & twin bunks), and full hook up RV sites.

• There is also an option for ENGAGED AND SEPARATED COUPLES to attend. As well as an option for DAY ATTENDEES ONLY. (Scroll half way down on the registration page to see those options.)

Schedule of Events:

Friday:

3-5 pm • Arrive/Check-in/Relax

5-6 pm • Welcome/Session 1 (Maple Auditorium)

6-7 pm • Dinner (Dining Hall)

7-8 pm • Session 2 (Maple Auditorium)

8 pm • Couple Communication Time*

Sabbath:

8-9 am • Breakfast (Dining Hall)

9-10 am • Sabbath Service/Session 3 (Maple Auditorium)

10:30-12 pm • Session 4 (Maple Auditorium)

12-1 pm • Lunch (Dining Hall)

1-4:30 pm • Couple Communication Time*

4:30-5:30 pm • Marriage testimony (Maple Auditorium)

6:00-7:30 pm • BLOOM Banquet Dinner (Dining Hall)

7:30 pm • Couple Communication Time*

Sunday:

8-9 am • Breakfast (Dining Hall)

9-10 am • Session 5 (Maple Auditorium)

10:30-11:45 am • Session 6 (Maple Auditorium)

11:45-12 pm • Closing Comments (Maple Auditorium)

12-1 pm • Lunch (Dining Hall)

1-3 pm • Couple Communication Time*

3 pm • Depart

(*Indoor pool, outdoor hot tub, bonfire and smores, pingpong, walk in nature, etc.)

THINGS TO BRING TO THE GETAWAY:

Your Spouse ;)

Your Bibles

Three days of clothing (check weather report)

Banquet dinner attire (formal attire encouraged, but not required)

Coat (nighttime gets chilly in the mountains)

Modest swimsuits

Swim towels

Day pack for Sabbath afternoon hiking (optional)

Bottle for water

Hiking shoes

Hats

Sunglasses

Camera

Medications

Personal toiletries

Bedding and bath towels (unless staying in an apartment or guest room where linens are provided.)

Your boat (if you want to bring it and don’t mind beaching it, as the dock will not be available at that time of year.)

More Notes:

• This is a marriage seminar, not therapy sessions.

• Vegetarian cuisine will be served (unless you specify that you are a seriously strict about eating only “vegan” or “gluten free" foods).

• There WILL be hot beverages available, but there will NOT be any caffeine products served at camp. Therefore, if you need caffeine, please BRING YOUR OWN. (ie: instant coffee mix, caffeinated tea, cola.)



• Camp MiVoden is an alcohol free zone.

• This is an adult retreat (please don’t bring children).

• Please do not bring your pets. Camp MiVoden has a no dog policy.

PAST BLOOM IN MARRIAGE SEMINARS:

2023 Bloom in Marriage Retreat speakers:

Rick & Cindy Mercer

Theme: Pray Big!

Sabbath afternoon marriage testimony from:

Rand & Jane Edwards

2022 Bloom in Marriage Retreat speakers:

Richie & Timi Brower

Theme: Desire & Anger

Sabbath afternoon marriage testimony from:

Mark & Lori Parker

2021 Bloom in Marriage Retreat speakers:

Mike & Lynn Ortel

Theme: Great Grace, Great Life!

Sabbath afternoon marriage testimony from:

David & Annie Morgan

2020 Bloom in Marrage Retreat:

Canceled due to Covid

2019 Bloom in Marriage Retreat speakers:

Robert & Cindy Morris

Theme: Created for Connection

Sabbath afternoon marriage testimony from:

Jorge & SueEllen Baute

Bloom in Marriage is sponsored by:

The Hayden Lake Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Hayden, Idaho

And The Upper Columbia Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists