Dear Retreat House Friend,

This year, we celebrate the creation of our first 20 podcast episodes! These rich conversations highlight the many beautiful souls connected to the Retreat House community and how it looks to live faith out loud. Sacred stories shared highlight those who are bringing light to others, themselves and the world around them.

Throughout December, we will tend to the light as we re-share written Daily Light reflections as well as a corresponding podcast episode. Look for an email like this at the beginning of each week and one towards the end.

On behalf of the leadership of RH, we hope you’ll find some sense of illumination, connection and joy in these stories shared!

In peace,

Emily Turner Watson

Spiritual Director | Podcast Host of Tending Space to Bear Spiritual Fruit

Featuring 12/17

In this episode, we visit with Ruth Winkler. Ruth has served as a Christian educator in churches for more than 25 years. She has worked with both adults and children most recently serving as the minister of children and youth at a church in the DFW area.

In 2008, a friend of Ruth’s gave her a book about bread making as a way to explore the Lenten season. For the past 16 years, Ruth has made bread almost every week as a way to ground herself and connect with God. She loves to explore various kinds of bread – most recently she’s been baking cinnamon rolls for her daughter Joy who just became a first-time mom, blessing Ruth with her third grandchild. In fact, she graciously called in for this episode from New York where she’s been staying with her daughter and helping to care for the newest addition to their family. Check out some of Ruth's recipe's on our blog at