No one who attended Bloom Again Virginia Beach arrived there by accident.
Bloom Again, Virginia Beach was a women’s gathering held in late February 2026, and from my perspective, the Bloom Again Virginia Beach retreat was even better than any of us dared imagine. The Bloom Again Virginia Beach Retreat with Jesus was created as a space where women could step away from their busy lives and rediscover what it means to sit at the feet of Jesus and rest in His presence.
It is now my honor to write this column not only from a place of planning and leadership for the event, but also with firsthand testimony of the things I witnessed God doing in the hearts of women throughout the entire time.
The gathering was held at the beautiful oceanfront Sheraton Hotel in Virginia Beach, where the vision of “throwing an extravagant banquet for God’s daughters” truly came to life in that space.
A “Retreat with Jesus” was another theme we had in mind, knowing how difficult it can be for women to find rest in the midst of their many responsibilities. The story of Martha and Mary often came up in our preparations for this gathering.
If you are familiar with the story, you know that Martha was busy hosting Jesus and His followers, while Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His voice. Sometimes we feel like both of these women.
Finding Rest at the Feet of Jesus
In preparing for the event, we all agreed on one thing: as women, we are busy! The demands of “wearing many different hats,” as we often say, have us juggling countless responsibilities. Those demands can make it difficult to slow down, and just sit at the feet of Jesus, and truly rest and listen.
As wives, moms, entrepreneurs, caregivers, homemakers—or whatever roles fill our daily routines—we often find ourselves being more like Martha, taking care of things and making sure everything flows as it should.
Even so, we recognize that we all need to find rest—both for ourselves and for our relationship with Jesus to truly thrive and bloom.
Bloom Again Virginia Beach = a Time Out!
The gathering was a pause in a beautiful place. A space carved out in time for us to heed the gentle call—to sit at the feet of Jesus as Mary did, and reconnect with our Savior.
Months of Preparations Brought Vision and Purpose
From the time that Bloom Again Kansas City ended, Bloom Again Virginia Beach was already in the making. We knew that God was on the move, and we knew where He was leading us next. This was thanks to the vision and obedience, of one of our leaders, Jaqueline Russell.
Jaqueline conveyed a vision the Lord had given her while she was at the Sheraton for her birthday celebration.
The Lord gave her a vision of the event. And He then told her that He wanted her to host a mother-daughter retreat, for all generations. He said He wanted to lavish His daughters.
Knowing it would require financial breakthroughs was just one part of the scenario. The other was that she felt like God wanted the gathering to be free for women to attend. So this was certainly no small ask for a room that would hold 250 women or more.
Jaqueline revealed that God then told her that “money is just a tool and that His people have resources (money) that they want to use to bless others, in order to make things possible.”
In faith, she shared the vision with someone soon after, and they told her they had the resources and wanted to anonymously donate so that the event could happen! ~ That’s a God thing ya’ll!
God’s Vision Included His Provision
Those provisions made it possible for the venue to be held in the very hotel where Jaqueline first seen the vision. The event was free, and the women were treated with lavish banquets on Friday and Saturday.
The tables were set, and looked ready to receive royalty. Then, just for added good measure, the hotel agreed to reduced rates for the women who wanted to stay for the weekend!
Praise God for His provision and for Jaqueline’s willing heart! ~ A huge thank you to the anonymous donor!
I reached out to Jacqueline about this column and wanted to share a few of her words with you. She told me: “I’m soo, soo thankful I said yes, and I didn’t let fear stand in the way. It was definitely challenging at times, and I had to continually choose to trust Jesus.”
“Yay, You Jaqueline! Yay, You!” ~ We are glad you did too!
Timid Hearts, Curious Minds, and Expectant Spirits
I watched as women from all over the country gathered, and it was almost as if I could read their minds as they arrived. Even in that beautifully welcoming atmosphere, it was easy to see that many of the women—and next-gen girls—were a little timid and nervous at first, not quite knowing what to expect.
I heard a few admit their nervousness as they quietly confided that they were unsure why they were there at all? For instance, some said they had come simply because a friend, mom, or sibling invited them to attend. Then commented that they had no real idea what was in store.
Then there were others who arrived with expectant hearts, excited to see what Bloom Again was all about, as they stepped out in faith to retreat with Jesus.
Honestly speaking, even us leaders of the gathering were ready for this break from our everyday routines. We were excited to see each other in person, and ready to see what God had in store!
No One Was There by Accident
One thing I am absolutely certain of about the Bloom Again weekend is this: no one was there by accident.
Every single person—including leaders, speakers, musicians, dancers, servers, organizers, and every participant—was exactly where God intended them to be.
God ordained that specific moment in time, knowing we would all be there for such a time as this… and He met us there in that sacred space.
It’s likely that the women didn’t realize that God had already been at work behind the scenes for months, preparing hearts, and making things possible that first seemed impossible. He had been making provisions for something far bigger than any of us could truly see in advance.
God had a plan, and His plans were higher than ours! And that reminds me of a favorite verse!
Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) says: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…”
I love seeing God show me the truth of this scripture, firsthand, time and time again!
Why I Feel Led to Share the Bloom Again Stories
I have had the privilege of helping plan all three of the Bloom Again gatherings thus far. After each event, I couldn’t wait to write about them!
Moments like these are too meaningful to simply pass by without pausing for reflection!
I’ve felt a deep sense of responsibility to document the wonderful things that God is doing through Bloom Again. And while I can’t detail every moment, some of the highlights are being written from a heart posture that wants God to receive the Glory!
Time and time again throughout Scripture, we see God’s people pause to remember His goodness. And our own Biblical knowledge is available because God ordained someone to record the ways He moved in their midst.
In that same spirit, I felt led to share the stories of:
- Bloom Again Augusta Georgia
- Bloom Again Kansas City
- (and now) Bloom Again Virginia Beach. (Click the links to read about the first two Bloom Again gatherings!)
These were not just some ordinary events that transpired. Instead, these gatherings secured intimate connections between women that God brought together for a purpose. He chose us, prepared our hearts, and met us in ways we could not have planned ourselves.
Each weekend held its own unique takeaways! Women who had arrived as strangers left with newly forged friendships and Kingdom connections. At all three Bloom Again events, it was obvious that God brought His daughters together in beautiful ways!
In my next article, I’ll share some of the intimate moments from the Virginia Beach weekend. Be sure to check it out!
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