This weekend retreat is all about women, relationships, and encouraging one another in Christ-centered friendship. You’ll have time each afternoon to play and rest. Time will be given to reflect on our own relationships as daughters, mothers, sisters, friends, wives and colleagues. It will be a weekend of learning to know and love God, others, and self more deeply with great food, fellowship and fun.

Karyn Utecht, former Miss Minnesota (2005), will be the guest speaker this year. Joining her is Julie Baker-Olson as the activities coordinator. 

Karyn played D1 golf at the  University of Minnesota and is the wife of Ben Utecht, former tight end for the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals. Mrs. Utecht will be sharing how the Lord continuously teaches her to find her identity in Him. Being married to Ben, a national speaker, author, and advocate for brain health, Karyn knows what it is like to be surrounded by other things vying to claim her identity. Through everything she has learned, she looks forward to encouraging women to find how strong and true their identity is when it is set on the rock of Jesus Christ. 

Julie Baker-Olson, a child of God, from Owatonna, MN, has been a member of Trinity Lutheran Church for many years. She is a singer, Bible study teacher, and past leader of Trinity’s contemporary worship. She grew up in Ada, MN with her 5 brothers and 1 sister, and was active at Grace Lutheran. A graduate of Concordia College, she was involved in Bible studies, choirs, and gospel singing teams that traveled all over the states. She ministered for a period at Community Church of Joy in Arizona with a singing group called the “Builders of Joy.” She is a retired elementary teacher of 34 years, but continues to teach when not supervising student teachers for colleges. She has three grown children and two grandchildren. Julie is excited to work with her former 5th grade student, Karyn Stordahl Utecht!