Ties Bind

There is that old Rudyard Kipling line about keeping one’s head while all about are losing theirs that came to mind last week.

On the phone was Terri Daniel, a board member for the non-profit Blue Skies Ministries.

Daniel’s enthusiasm was an attention-grabber. She was so excited and thankful at the same time, it was hard not to set aside everything on my desk and just listen.

Good news is something to latch on to these days.

Blue Skies Ministries is an Atlanta-based organization that aims to provide services to families with children who are afflicted with life-threatening illnesses.

“We are an organization that is trying to bring hope into situations that sometimes it feels that there is no hope,” Daniel said.

As Daniel recounted, the organization, which is in its infancy, had its first retreat in May.

The tale of how the group, which included 12 families and a host of volunteer staff, came to Port St. Joe is a long one but can be summed up as some kind of intervention from above, Daniel might insist.

How a look at a map, research into available facilities that could handle large groups, price and other variables brought the group to Port St. Joe and WindMark Beach.

“For us, WindMark just sort of seemed to fit,” Daniel said. “Our first retreat exceeded all our expectations.”

In large part because of a community that embraced them, nurtured them and showed, as Daniel noted, the kind of attention and welcome that would not be seen in a large metropolis like Atlanta.

Where to begin would be the hard part, though the start is likely on the beach at WindMark where the group was introduced to the beauty of St. Joseph’s Bay and the waters beyond.

Nothing but postcard scenery all around, Daniel noted, saying that for those of faith what better way to show the handiwork of a higher source of being than the beauty that surrounds us in Port St. Joe.

But the small acts of kindness were the ones that stuck out for Daniel, a sort of pay it forward not typical in today’s madcap world.

Start with the accommodations, made possible by WindMark Beach Resort, which provided a deep discount for the group to rent the Southern Living Showcase Home.

There were the kind ladies at The Chair on Reid who closed up shop for an afternoon and cut the hair of the moms in what Daniel called the organization’s Mom’s Pampering day.

Haircut, pedicures, manicures, all free of charge.

There was The School of Fish Restaurant, who treated the 12 sets of parents to a quiet evening dinner for what is known as Parents Night Out.

The night is a chance for a brief getaway in front of a nourishing spread for parents typically on the go 24/7 for their children.

That same night the children were kept busy by a pile of pies, 50 by Daniel’s memory, courtesy of Hungry Howies Pizza.

Again, no charge for any of the eats, from pizza to School of Fish it was all on the house.

There was the fishing, snorkeling trip that Gary Hites at Seahorse Water Safaris provided, free of charge.

“You can’t sing the praises of that community enough,” Daniel said.

And so she continued.

The First United Methodist Church donated chairs and tables for the group to use for the week and Jason Walls chipped in by providing the muscle and transportation to get those chairs and tables back and forth.

Walls also donated ice and proved crucial to securing wheelchairs for two of the children.

“How don’t know how he did that,” Daniel said. “He was amazing.”

Breakfasts during the week were taken care of by a combination of Piggly Wiggly and McDonald’s.

The former provided 60 dozen eggs, “our morning eggs,” Daniel said, throughout the week and also allowed the group to come early one morning to use a helium canister to fill balloons for the closing ceremony.

McDonald’s donated the breakfast sandwiches for that ceremony.

One day was Mexican siesta time and Peppers Mexican Grill and Cantina was happy to provide the chips and salsa, Daniel said.

And when it came time for Kid’s Cooking Class, who better but Lulu from Lulu’s Sweet Expectations to provide the chef’s hats and aprons for the children to use?

Lulu also made several special birthday cakes for members of the group.

“These donors were an amazing part of our experience in Port St. Joe,” Daniel said. “The fact that they would give so much, given the (economic) circumstances (in the county), that they would sacrifice for us, was just amazing.

“They helped us. They helped us bring hope to those children beyond our expectations.”

So much so that when planning for the organization’s second retreat this fall there was really only one choice.

The group will be back with more children and families Sept. 19-25, soaking up paradise – and the surrounding landscape.

For as Daniel explained there was a special sort of paradise found in Port St. Joe that did not involve the ocean, beach or sun.

There was a paradise built by people, who extended a hand and gave more than they possibly could have imagined.

“I don’t know how to say it, we can’t thank them enough,” Daniel said. “They inspired us, so if they are inspired by what they gave us that would be great.”