Share our life-changing Legacy Retreat® experiences!
I was reading an article the other day that proposed "life's most urgent question".
It was not...
1) Where is the best sale today?
2)Who is the prettiest/sexiest/wealthiest person alive?
3) What is the most lucrative career?
It was....
What are you doing for others?
I love this!
In just one week 16 families and 34 staff/volunteers will meet in Orlando for an amazing Inheritance of Hope Legacy Retreat.
We will travel from Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Michigan, Kansas, New York, Georgia, and North Carolina.
I have a great job.
I get to meet beautiful families that are faced with some difficulties and plan a dream vacation for them.
The absolute BEST part of my job is the phone call when I tell them it is their turn to go on this dream vacation.
Many people cry. They all echo words of gratitude and emotion. Many are overwhelmed and even slightly speechless.
As we were driving to my son's preschool graduation, my sweet 5 year old was explaining that he and each of his classmates were going up on stage and they were going to have to say in the microphone what they want to be when they grow up.
"What are you going to say?" I asked him.
"A drum player..... I would really like to change my answer but I can't because it is too late."
"Why?"
"It's already printed on my diploma."
This time of year most of us are very blessed to spend a lot of time with our families. Sometimes this is the only time of year we get to see some of them. It is always one of my favorite things about the holiday season. I love hanging out with my parents and siblings and in-laws.
One thing I have learned in my experience and conversations with others is no family is perfect. I would venture to guess that behind every Norman Rockwell painted smile there are a few snickers, giggles, questionable glares and possibly even tears. Likely on the bottom of the perfectly-browned, perfectly-seasoned, perfectly-shiny, perfectly-PAINTED turkey there is a real turkey that is a little too dry and maybe slightly burned, that came out of an oven that is perfectly covered in the caked on messy juices from a day of cooking. The oven you look at and think "I really need to clean that sometime."
I think it is easy to look at other people's life, or Christmas card photo, and think, "Wow, they have the perfect family. They have no idea what goes on in my house at Christmas. I'm so glad she won't be looking in my oven."
Tonight everyone enjoyed a night out! Even the rain couldn't damper our delight to head out on the town.
All of the parents were given gift cards to eat at a fancy New York City restaurant. They were thrilled to have a nice evening just as adults, but not as thrilled as their children were to have Kids Night Out!
This morning it is a little bit cooler and cloudy in the Big Apple.
Most of the families were a little later down to breakfast this morning, feeling the tiredness from an amazing a busy day yesterday. After filling their bellies with the Novotel's delicious breakfast spread everyone was able to perk up to begin a fun and full day in the city.
What an amazing night!
Following a scrumptious dinner at the Hotel Novotel we took a 3 block walk to Radio City Music Hall. All of the families were super excited to see the show.
The show started with a 3D movie experience and moved into a kick line. The Rockettes were amazing as santas, toy soldiers, shoppers, humbug zappers, and glittery Christmas decorations.
