Rachel's second summer at Hole in the Wall

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

Last Thursday we dropped Rachel off for her second summer at this amazing camp. Last year, she had never really been away from home and had a difficult first night. See this post from last year which chronicles her incredible experience:

http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...p-charity.html


Now I will tell you that I heard from her last night, but before that, she hadn't called since last Friday. (For a kid that needed to call every night last year, this in itself was fantastic.) At any rate, the counselor actually got on the phone first, to tell me that they had just finished stage night, and my daughter (who is a very good singer) had almost moved her to tears with her rendition of "I Can Hear the Bells". (I was moved to tears by the counselor!) Although Rachel has sung and performed with a local theatre group for a couple of years, she has been too shy to sing by herself in a new venue...so for her to be able to do this, and show her talent, in front of a new group of people was wonderful.

We pick her up tomorrow, and I'm sure for her the week has flown by. I know it will be hard for her to leave and I can only hope that the memories, and the propect of returning, will carry her into next year.

I still highly recommend this camp as the best charity around.

Sharon

[chemteach Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chemteach]

Sharon,
It's so wonderful that you found this camp for her. Now, if only she could go for 2 weeks! :-)

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

Sharon,
Rachael sure has come a long way in 1 year. Between maturity and self confidence, that is amazing. I'm so happy for the whole family.

[susieq Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close susieq]

It's wonderful that she could go again ~ I remember your saying how much she enjoyed it last year. I'm sure she had a wonderful time ~ it's very special for her. I'm really happy for all of you.

Sue

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

I am so glad she is having such a great time. For those of you who don't know The HOle in the Wall was founded by Paul Newman for children with special needs to have a week and not have to worry about anything. We have a camp in NC called The Victory Junction Gang / which Paul Newman helped Kyle Petty (race car driverRichard Pettys son) started a camp in honor of their son who died in a wreck at a Nascar race. It is my fav charity and about the only one I regularly give to.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Sharon....I'm so happy to hear that Rachael got to go to camp again this summer, and that she's having a wonderful time. That's great!!!!

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Now she can say she was a member of the Hole in the Wall gang.

[IreneLF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close IreneLF]

I'm really happy to read this report and now hope she is ready to Rock with Ron and also do karaoke at Smugglers.
Wish I could be there to see and hear it -- well, I could you know, expecially that second week for the "all girls" week at Balsams ))
Congratulations to Rachel and proud Mom,

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Sounds great! The counselors must have been very proud, and of course you, too! It's wonderful when they do something you never dreamed they would.

[senorak Member Find all posts View Profile Close senorak]

Sharon, that's awesome! It sounds like Rachael has a wonderful time at the camp....and is growing into quite the outgoing and bubbly young lady! That song, "I Can Hear the Bells"....it's from "Hairspray", right? I play that soundtrack all the time in my car....and my kids sing along, as well.

Give Rachael our best.....Devon was thrilled to hear of Rachael's performance!

Deb

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

Hi everyone,

We are just back from picking Rachel up. Yesterday she got to meet Paul Newman, and David Blaine...who came to their cabin to "do some tricks"...lol! (Apparently, he put a half dollar in his hand and waved his other hand over it and it turned into a cell phone.) She had her picture taken with David Blaine (we gave her a couple of disposable cameras to bring with her) but not Mr. Newman...that wasn't as exciting I guess!

It's funny...last year when we dropped her off she was crying because she was scared, but this year when we picked her up she was crying because she didn't want to leave! It seemed like everyone knew who she was, and she spent a half hour just hugging different people goodbye.

An amazing time was had...thank you Paul Newman!!

Sharon

P.S. I think I mentioned that last year she got to go up in a hot air balloon. This year? Scuba diving!