"Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June” Anonymous
Living in Florida makes it more difficult to notice the passage of seasons yet there are many signs that welcome the impending summer months. Less traffic and congestion on the roads, more rainy afternoons and longer daylight hours to enjoy evenings outdoors.
At Protected Harbor we are also seeing changes; this month we are excited to welcome our newest resident Kristen. Her smile
and happy demeanor will bring even more joy to residents and house parents alike. Everyone is thrilled to welcome her into her new home.
The highlight of the month of May was the first “Olympics” organized for the residents on the grounds of PH1. In addition to a delicious BBQ, a variety of competitive games were offered such as frisbee golf, corn hole, bean bag tic-tac-toe and a putting green. This blessed, fun-filled event could never have taken place without the help of the many friends who came out in support of Protected Harbor.
Each resident was coupled with a “coach” while each game was managed by additional volunteers who kept score and encouraged the players as they rotated from one game position to another. Everyone was provided with cold water bottles as they engaged in the games under the hot Florida sun. An array of food was also available as volunteers barbequed while others helped to serve the almost 120 people present at the event! The enthusiasm was palpable, the fun quotient unmeasurable.
A highlight of the Olympic event was the presentation and dedication of a special bench honoring Protected Harbor’s first President, Robert Schubring who humbly accepted the honor with his wife Pat by his side. The bench will remain as a permanent feature on the grounds of PH1 as a reminder of his service and the genesis of this organization.
The grand finale of the day was the awarding of medals which were given both to the winning teams as well as to the individuals who either scored the most points overall or scored highest in any individual game. In the end every resident walked away with multiple medals hanging around their necks and huge smiles indicating great pride in what they had achieved. The joy on the winners faces shined as they received recognition from all the volunteers, organizers, workers and donors who loudly applauded them.
Behind the Smiles are our special residents who love God and know they are loved by Him and all those who share their time, talents and offerings as partners with Protected Harbor. We look forward to more special events in the future and invite everyone to watch for announcements. Please plan to join us or schedule a personal visit to the homes. Each person had a chance to meet new friends and walked away with their hearts filled with love and the anticipation we would see one another again.
“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” 1 Timothy 4:4