Well, we are home and semi-rested from our amazing trip to the beach.  For those of you who don’t know, we spent all of last week in Seaside, FL at the Lighthouse Family Retreat (a camp for families who are facing childhood cancer).  We got to stay in an amazing beach house (check out our pics).  We were there with 12 families who have a child with cancer and a whole group of staff and volunteers who served us more than you can imagine (they wouldn’t even let us carry our own plates to the table).  We got to do all the fun things you do at the beach plus we got to spend some time sharing our story and our fears with other parents who understand what we have been through.  Someone told me when we first arrived that there would be lots of laughter and just a few tears.  I actually think there were lots of tears, but they were tears of healing—not as many of the painful ones we are used to.  One night they had a talent show that all the kids were involved in and I couldn’t help but cry over these precious kids who had been through so much, but were so full of life and joy.  What a blessing to see! 

If you are a family in our situation, you need to take advantage of this retreat.  If you or your family wants to help other families who are in our situation, I would encourage you to support this organization.  They of course need financial support, but they also need families to volunteer their time to serve down there.  We have found some lifelong friends in our volunteer families—the Fowlers, the Meyers, and so many others.  I have to say a special thanks to Ba-go-go (how do you even spell that?)—this is Greta’s name for Melinda Mayton who is the founder of the Lighthouse who has followed God’s calling on her life to start this ministry (you are now our forever friend—like it or not).  Thanks to the volunteers, staff, and the other cancer families.  You all blessed us and brought some much needed joy to our lives.  You served us as unto the Lord—thank you.

www.lighthousefamilyretreat.org