Thoughts

       I was realizing the other day that I hadn't shared my story about how I got involved with Joni and Friends. It's been such a fun trip down memory lane thinking back over the last 4 years, so much has happened.
       It all started the summer of 2011 roughly 2 weeks before the Twin Rocks Family Retreat. I signed up to go as a STM (Short Term Missionary) and be a buddy to a child in a family affected by disability. These family retreats are a week long, starting on Sunday for the STMs and Monday afternoon for the families. All day Sunday and Monday morning is training for the STMs. After the first day of training I realized that I hadn't fully grasped what I had signed up for. It was most definitely the hardest week of my life! I was stretched emotionally and physically. I cried every night that first family week.

       I was completely changed after that one week. I had to tell everyone about it! 4 years and 7 family retreats later I am now attending my first Joni and Friends Cause 4 Life Internship! My love for these families and individuals affected by disability has grown astronomically. Each family retreat has taught me something  different. That very first camp I went expecting to bless the families and found out that I had very little to offer. I was the one who came away extremely blessed.

     Now you couldn't pay me enough to stay away from family retreat. Every week that I'm not there is like being away from the home and family that I love.