hApPy BiRyHdAy 2 me! Thirty One-derful!

I spent my birthday volunteering at Comfort Zone Camp ~ an unbelievable camp for grieving children.

The camp is in the mountains of Malibu. A bunch of volunteers met up at Duke's in Malibu to help me celebrate my birthday!

Duke's is always highly recommended but I've never had the chance to go. In fact, it's one of my friend Tommy's favorites. And that boy knows food! (Think Memphis, Chicago, etc!) So, in our matching CZC t-shirts and camp weary bodies we took over the outdoor patio!

We arrived just in time to watch the sunset over the Pacific. It was a beauty!

Carolyn and I ~ I recruited her to be a CZC volunteer. I knew that she would be a perfect Big Buddy... and she was! We'll both be going back soon. What an amazing experience!!!

Happy Birthday to me! (And Ricardo looking on :O) )

Kim and I. Kim was the Camp RN, and lives in Long Beach. I'm looking forward to hanging out at the beach with her soon.

Comfort Zone Camp is the best! Thanks for helping me celebrate #31! I feel a tradition starting...

Am I the only one who's never seen Dirty Dancing?

That changed tonight! I saw Dirty Dancing live on stage at the Pantages Theatre! My parents forbid me to watch it when I was under their censorship ~ and now I know why as there are a few "mature audience" themes. I suppose if I were the adult, anything with Dirty next to Dancing in the title would probably be vetoed too.

I never had the occasion to watch it once I became a, "grown up." So seeing the classic story take the stage gave me a good excuse to see what all the fuss is about. It's like I somehow missed out on the movie that everybody has seen. Deprived for sure.

The dancing was great and the set designs were even better.

My friend Rachel, who was my healing circle leader at Comfort Zone Camp, is a season ticket holder with her daughter, Mickey. Mike (also in my healing circle) and I joined in on the fun. And now, we're hopeful to catch a couple of other shows in the lineup. I love the theatre!

Mike and I bought,"the cheap seats," but when we went to pick up the tickets from Will Call, we were upgraded to the sixth row. SWEET! I knew it wasn't worth the $100+ Orchestra seats! I love it when that happens...

Me, Mike, Mickey and Rachel at The Pantages Theatre

We ate dinner at Kung Pao Kitty Asian Eatery on Hollywood Boulevard. It was good stuff. All of it. We reminisced on how awesome our experiences were at camp. We realized how much we really didn't get to know each other on an adult level as we had 8 year olds (literally) glued to our hips for the entire weekend. We'll all be back at camp this summer and are looking forward to more awesomeness!

AND now we have shows (Fiddler on the Roof and Legally Blonde) to enjoy together.

Comfort Zone Camp Weekend

Last weekend was:

EMOTIONAL

INCREDIBLE
TOUCHING
BONDING
MEANINGFUL
MEMORABLE

I left feeling:

HONORED
INSPIRED
FULFILLED
HOPEFUL

and PLEASANTLY EXHAUSTED

I spent the weekend in Malibu being a BIG BUDDY at Comfort Zone Camp, "a fun and safe place for grieving children." My "job" was to shadow my little buddy and walk beside her as she experienced camp. I was there to encourage, empower, listen and facilitate a safe place to express feelings about the loss of loved ones. The goal was to allow campers to tell their story while providing an outlet to grieve.

The weekend was full of contagious enthusiasm. From challenge courses, singing, campfires, and cabin time... to arts and crafts, healing circles, fashion shows and silliness. The campers were able to be children who are grieving instead of grieving children. They were with their peers who truly identified with them. In the words of one of my 7 year old campers, "People tell me all the time that they know how I feel. But they don't. They think they do, but they don't really. At camp, they really do know how I feel. And I like the bunk beds!"

I came to camp to help kids. And is the sentiment of most volunteers and staff, I left camp feeling that they gave me more than I could ever give them.

I learned in training that, "A good big buddy would be someone with giant ears with long arms so that they can listen and give hugs." And that is what I tried to do. Comfort Zone Camp is an amazing organization and I look forward to volunteering for many, many camps in the future!

"Unfortunately, the death of a mom, dad, brother, or sister happens to over 2.5 million children in our country. Comfort Zone Camp gives these children a place where they can be around other kids and adults that get it, while learning valuable coping skills to use in their everyday lives. " Consider volunteering! You can change a child's life!

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

~Psalm 34:18

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their hearts."

~Psalm 147:3