Can’t get away for the whole week? Try the Wellness Weekender option and get away to the beautiful hill country of Texas to focus on getting strong and healthy.  You’ll enjoy healthy delicious meals and take all the recipes home with you. You’ll have the opportunity to try some new exercise classes, like Dance Blast or Pilates, in a private setting with people just like you.  Each evening you’ll  hear Biblically-sound speakers that will renew your spirit and walk with the Lord.  All of this and more at Wellness Week in Round Top as well as plenty of “porch time” for you to spend quiet time with the Lord or chat with friends.  Here’s more about the week:

Round Top Retreat is a beautiful Victorian-style retreat center located “Deep in the Heart of Texas.” It’s operated by the Goad family, who began this ministry on

Wellness Week includes:a full-time basis in 1984, to provide a home environment with all the charm of a country setting, where people can share God’s Word.

• Daily Bible Study and Devotionals
• Exercise Options For Every Fitness Level
• Delicious, Healthy Meals
• Rest and relaxation – Lots of Porch Time!
• Praise and Worship
• Inspirational Speakers
• Personal Consultation with a Fitness Trainer

Daily Bible Study & Devotional.  Each morning we gather together for a morning devotional and prayer time. During this time, we study the Bible using the latest First Place for Health Bible Study. Later in the day, we meet in small groups to get to know each other better and pray for our challenges and concerns.

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Exercise for Every Fitness Level.  Activities include: aerobics, strength and endurance training, stretching, seated exercises, biking on your own or with a friend and interval training for those who think they “can’t exercise.”  Each activity is designed to meet the fitness level of each individual and participation is optional.  You’ll also have a personal consultation with a fitness trainer to develop your own fitness plan.

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Delicious, Healthy Meals. Enjoy healthy meals made from the freshest ingredients. You will be amazed at the delicious, satisfying meals you can have using First Place for Health recipes. All the recipes will be provided for you to take home and try yourself. Your meal may include Ancho Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Slaw and Avocado Cream, Cajun Meatloaf, Mozzarella & Tomato Flatbread, Strawberry & Pecan Salad with Raspberry Balsamic Viniagrette and more. Breakfast is served continental style with healthy options, such as yogurt, fruit, cereal, bagels and toast.

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Rest and Relaxation. Porch Time is a favorite activity at Round Top. Talking and relaxing with friends on the porch is on the schedule every afternoon. Benches are dispersed around the grounds for you to sit and read, have your quiet time, or just relax. The scent of clean, country air and the sounds of wildlife and nature surround you in this peaceful, serene setting.

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Praise and Worship.  We meet together each evening for an exciting  program of informative and motivating speakers along with uplifting music by our featured worship leader.

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Special Guests: 

Laura Acuna – Laura began life as a ‘skinny girl’ but gained 100 pounds in one year at the young age of 11. From that time on, she lived on the diet and body image roller coaster, which never led to permanent weight loss or freedom from the pain she was numbing with food. Instead, she picked up a lifetime of broken thinking about herself, her God, and what His definition of freedom truly means. She lived life small and restricted, wrongly believing that freedom and an abundant life would not come until she was ‘skinny’ for good.

Laura Acuña is a speaker, author, Bible teacher, and coach. She’s served as a women’s ministry leader for over 22 years. A graduate of Liberty University, she earned a degree in Christian Counseling and a minor in Biblical Studies. She’s the co-founder of Sisters in Faith Ministries, a non-profit ministry to women in the Damascus, Maryland, area. Married to Pat, the two are the parents of three sons, and one daughter-in-love. They became first-time grandparents to Evelyn Grace (finally a girl!) in July 2021. Learn more about Laura at https://laura-acuna.com/

Vicki Heath – Vicki is National Director of First Place for Health. Vicki is a certified fitness instructor for the American Council on Exercise, a certified life coach and Wellness Coordinator for her church in Edisto Beach, SC. Vicki is author of the book Don’t Quit Get Fit and Wellness Journey of a Lifetime. She has led a successful First Place for Health ministry in her church for twenty years. Vicki is passionate about Christ and has a desire to help others understand the value of caring for their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. Vicki is a pastor’s wife and mother of four wonderful children.

Carole Lewis – Carole served as the national director of First Place for Health from 1987-2013. Carole is a popular speaker and author of 15 books. She leads conferences, Christian spas, workshops and seminars with an emphasis on personal and spiritual balance, fitness, encouragement and temperament analysis. Her audiences know her as warm, transparent, honest and humorous.  Carole became a widow in June 2014; she has two adult children and one deceased, eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Lisa Lewis – Lisa is the First Place for Health Chief Operating Officer, overseeing publishing, social media and day-to-day operating functions of the First Place for Health office. Lisa’s cooking skills have been a part of FP4H wellness weeks and other events for many years. She provided recipes for 15 of the First Place for Health Bible studies and is author of Healthy Happy Cooking released November, 2016. She is dedicated to bringing people together around the dinner table with healthy, delicious meals that are easy to prepare. Lisa lives in Galveston and is married to John. They have three children: Tal, Hunter and Harper.

Tell me about Round top Retreat…
Accommodations are furnished beautifully in the style of an earlier Texas time with antiques and some of the things reminiscent of “Granny’s Home.”  You will be required to bring sheets and towels for your stay.  Comforters and pillows are provided.  If you need to be assigned to a particular bed size, please indicate in the Comments section of registration.  Most rooms share a bathroom with another room (jack and jill style).

The gardens of the Retreat provide about a mile of walking paths meandering through the property. The paths flow through the cottage gardens of mixed borders, antique roses, perennials, annuals, and native plants. Cedar pergolas display climbing roses along the walkways. Several hundred trees provide shady places to sit and enjoy God’s Creation.

How do I get there?
Round Top is located at the eastern edge of the Texas Hill country–it’s about a 2-hour drive from Houston, and about a 90-minute drive from Austin. For an extra charge, First Place will arrange for a shuttle to take you from Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston to Round Top Retreat Center.

I want to be pampered…
During the week, a certified relaxation massage therapist will be available. Pamper yourself with a relaxing massage after your workout or before you go to bed.  A certified nail technician will also be available for manicures. There is an extra charge for both of these services.

Area Attractions
Round Top, Texas. Shops both quaint and elegant; antiques primitive and classic; eateries down-home and more refined. Whatever your pleasure, Round Top is sure to please. Tour our historic museum village. Picnic on our town square, enjoy fragrant herb gardens and Shakespeare. You can find virtually anything here.

Festival Hill.  A year-round performing arts and conference center presenting concerts and forums, and hosting rural retreats for businesses and educational institutions. Tours can be arranged of the McAshan Gardens or of the Festival Hill campus, historical buildings and museum rooms, The grounds are open year-round to the public.

Henkel Square Museum Village.  Henkel Square is nationally recognized as an authentic restoration of Anglo-American and German-American 19th century culture where families may enjoy and experience the living tradition of Austin’s pioneers. The Apothecary is the entrance to the museum village and has a wide assortment of gifts, books and displays from the Bybee Collection. Open Thursday – Sunday 12 – 5 p.m. 979/249-3308

Scarecrow Festival – The second weekend of October the residents of La Grange close Main Street for the annual Scarecrow Festival. The last couple of years, around 200 front yards in the area have been decorated with mannequins made from straw. Besides judging for the best display of scarecrows at the festival there will be 125 booths selling food and merchandise.  Hayrides take visitors on a tour of the historic sites.

Winedale Historical Center. A division of The University of Texas Center for American History featuring tours of nineteenth century buildings, housing, early German Texas furniture and decorative arts.

What do people say about the FP4H Wellness Week?

Food was terrific & so good for us! Thanks for your hard work and for giving us the recipes as well!  I can’t wait to try them at home!

God has breathed new life into me.  I have been refreshed, filled up where I was empty and been shown where I have been weak, lazy, disobedient or plain wasting both my time and His. 

Helped me slow down and reflect.  Gave me ideas to take home – food and exercise.  A fun time.

Given me peace & freedom from burdens of anger, hatred and un-forgiveness.  Reminded me of the purpose for setting goals.  Surrounded me with much love & encouragement.

COST:  $450

*All-inclusive – includes all meals, lodging, speakers, exercise options and materials.  Registration does not include services of the massage therapist.)

REGISTER

Check in begins at 3:00 PM on 10/6/22 and departure on 10/9/22 after lunch.

Still have questions?  Contact Lisa Lewis at lisa.lewis@fp4h.com or by phone at 800.727.5223, x1001