by meaghan wall, special needs coordinator

"More than Imagined" was the them for Joni & Friends Family Retreat this year, and it definitely was a week bigger and better than I would have ever dreamed. Thirteen families and seven volunteers from Stonebriar Community Church attended the camp, all made possible by the generous donations of our church body. From horseback riding to swimming, fishing, and blobbling, our families enjoyed every aspect of camp life. Most of our families even participated in the giant slip-n-slide, talent show, and dance. The week was packed with activities, all of which were adapted to allow everyone to participate. I had the opportunity to see a child who is typically confined to a wheelchair slide down a hugh slip-n-slide. Crazy that a slip-n-slide should bring tears to my eyes, but that's camp!

For many this was the first family vacation . . . for most of them it was the first vacation in which they could relax and enjoy their respite, knowing that trained volunteers were taking care of their children. While the children were playing, parents had a chance to reconnect, to have a conversation lasting more than a minute, and to sit in absolute silence while listening to the rain beat down on the roof. It's hard to put the experience into words other than to say, "Camp was more than imagined."