I Heart Faces-My Story in Photos-Vacation Edition

Guess what? Amy and Angie think they need a break! From I Heart Faces--can you even imagine? Why, they've only given many, many hours each week, for free, to create, set up, and monitor the photo contests that we've grown to love. And we've only gotten more and more impatient as holidays go by, and now summer.. and yet, we expect them to just keep plugging on with all of their duties. Why do they need a break? Yeah, I get it.. and I am really happy that they're taking one. And yet, they STILL want us to get our "fix", so this week they've come up with something new. We're encouraged to do a post, with LOTS of pictures instead of just one, describing a favorite vacation. Cool.. it finally gives me the push I needed to post about OUR favorite place, The Lighthouse Family Retreat!

For anyone out there who isn't familiar with The Lighthouse, it's a retreat for families who have a child with cancer. They come, free of charge, to spend a week at the beach in the panhandle of Florida. Their needs are taken care of us much as possible by a team of volunteers who does everything from cooking meals to washing clothes, to cleaning their beach homes, to caring for their kids while they go for a group counseling session. It is AMAZING, and I can say with certainty that the volunteers take away as much, if not more, than the retreat families.

Bug Hunter and I went on our first retreat in 2007. Our family was from the St. Louis area, and they had 3 boys, ages (at that time) 8, 6, and 3. The 3-year old had ALL (leukemia) and Downs Syndrome. He was "mine" for the week, and oh my word.. he ran me ragged! But, in a good way.. I fell head-over-heels in love with that boy and his family, and Bug Hunter? Well, he cried on Friday night when he told me how sad he was that we'd all be leaving the next day. Broke my heart and made it swell with pride at the same time.

This was our first Lighthouse retreat buddy:


His two older brothers became REALLY good friends with Bug Hunter, and in 2008, they all traded hats as souveniers:


Last year, 2008, we went the same week as in 2007, and we were rewarded with being with that family again. But, they weren't "our" family; we were given another family to serve, and we fell in love with them, too. There were a number of volunteer and retreat families who returned that same week, and we felt like we were "home". The very best part of each day for me was "Nightcap"; once the retreat families were finished with whatever after-dinner activity was planned, the volunteers would meet for a little devotional. It was as close to 1st century Christianty as I think I will ever get (although, I imagine being able to go on mission to Africa or India or Mexico would probably come mighty close). We sang, we prayed, and we listened to a wonderful devotional from one of the senior retreat volunteers, who always managed to inspire and uplift us. As much as I gave, twice as much was poured back in, and it's the first time that I came away from a volunteer opportunity with SO much more than I brought.

Favorite part of the week was baptisms in the ocean!


Luau night was a BIG hit!















The retreat kids were encouraged to come up with a talent show entry; this was a dance that "my" girls came up with


and then, they did a skit about beans that absolutely split my sides


If you're looking for a place to go on mission with your family, especially if your kids are younger, I highly recommend The Lighthouse. I give you my word that you will NOT regret going. So, come on down.. come on over.. come on IN... to the Lighthouse!