Hi Everyone,

From time to time people ask us, “What is one way we can help our friends?

They recently lost a child, so we’re wondering what we could do that would

help them?”

Judy and I would like to suggest that you give them the

gift of a stay at Whitetail Lodge. We have found that friends

often like to “go together” to pay for a couple’s stay here.

This would be a great Christmas idea, as a memorial to your

friends son or daughter who has died.

All you would need to do is contact us about your friend. Once you send in your

donation for the three or five night stay we could contact your friends and let them

know what you’ve done. Then they could pick out a time when they could come for a

stay here. Of course, we would let them know who it is that is providing for their stay

here - unless you would prefer to be anonymous.

Another thing you can do for someone who’s lost a child is to help them make a call to

Smile Again Ministries. It can be really hard for a mom or dad to make that first call to

us. There is often so much pain involved. Because of that, it’s always helpful for a friend,

like you, to actually sit down with them and help them make the call. Once they do that

it becomes much easier.

As we’ve been writing about the holiday season that’s approaching we want to remind

you that your greatest gift to your friends is your love and support. Let them know

today that you are thinking of them.

Gift cards to local restaurants can be a great gift too. As we mentioned in an earlier blog,

it can be incredibly hard for moms and dads who have had a child die to simply eat. That’s

because eating means buying groceries, then they have to prepare the meal, and clean-up.

And what seems like a simple thing to you can be overwhelming to those who have had

a child die. So gift cards to local eateries are often welcomed by grieving parents.

Hope these thoughts help you as you prepare to help your friends. We want to thank you

for reaching out to others with love and compassion. Remember we love you guys. God

bless - Pat & Judy