By Volunstar blogger, Cassidy Kemp

“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” – Barack Obama

Hope. That is one word to describe today. We were blessed with beautiful weather for our first beach day! By 10 AM, Little Pink had taken over our corner of the beach with a sea (no pun intended) of chairs and canopies!

Throughout the morning, families rolled in with smiles on their faces and excitement in their eyes. While the kids buddied up and became instant friends, the adults chatted for hours as if they were old friends. We spent hours laughing, playing, and soaking up the sun. Oh, and of course eating! What’s better than pizza on the beach?

After some down time at their homes in the afternoon, the families gathered together again for a delicious outdoor BBQ. After dinner, retreat participants (both young and young at heart!) engaged in some healthy competition on the beach with a bunch of hilarious and silly games.

We cannot believe how many amazing moments have taken place by the end of our first day! There is so much beauty in the connections that are beginning to form based on shared understandings and experiences. We cannot wait to see what tomorrow will bring!

“It’s not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing what we have for the betterment of personkind, bringing hope to the lost and love to the lonely” – Leo Buscalgia
A special thanks to the Bethany Beach Breast Cancer Fun Run who funded the delicious meals from Jimmy’s Grille and Al Casapulla’s Subs, Steaks, and Pizza!