E News - Direct From Our Ocean View Decks

Farewell True Friend

Carol Jankowski came to CFL as a happy young mother. Over the years she accepted more and more responsibilities. She often served as the Kitchen Coordinator (for at least 14 years) and always stayed in contact. She embraced the special Marianist spirituality which as become a hall mark of CFL. She left her hard working, faith-filled Christian husband, Rick, and her beautiful daughter Kara who has grown to become a talented young woman. Originally the Jankowskis emigrated from Akron, Ohio, and lived in Burlington, Swansboro and Louisburg, NC.

“For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes.” Dag Hammarskjold

Beach Tip: Baby powder

Keep a small bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. When you're ready to leave the beach sprinkle yourself and kids with the powder and the sand will slide right off your skin.

Calling All Young Adults (18-29 years old)

If you have attended at least two summer family weeks, you are eligible to apply for a volunteer position to staff a ‘weekend’ or summer ‘week’ retreat at CFL. We want to help our Young Adults grow in leadership through service to others. Call or email for an application. 910-328-1584 or email CFLdirector@charterinternet.com

Oh, Please! Let Me Sing…

OK, I won’t burden you with a song but I would like to sing the praises of our CFL year-round staff. Our office is populated with a small pool of uncommonly talented, and generous, people.

I hope you all get to meet them and thank them for all the behind-the-scenes work they do to make CFL such a positive experience for thousands of retreatants each year.

Pat Willems manages all our rental contracts and retreat reservations. She lives out hospitality – and does it with a smile in her voice.

Deb Augustine wears several hats: managing the kitchen operations as well as vital office work to improve our overall efficiency.

Art Brodie maintains our three buildings which is no small task. His talents amaze us daily.

Thanks to all our CFL friends and supporters for contributing to our 2006 Holiday Appeal.

We promise to be faithful stewards of your generous contributions.

Mail Bag:

Dear CFL:

We thoroughly enjoyed the New Year's Eve weekend at CFL. The entire weekend was relaxing for everyone with lots of free time BUT lots to do. The crafts were fun and it was nice to use some of them as part of Mass. The dinner mystery and the Sardine game the kids played really built community. The kissing frog puzzle took all of us to complete - what fun! We can't wait until next time."

---- The Murn Family, Elizabeth City, NC

Dear CFL,

As holiday retreats go, this one was GREAT! The casual pace of the entire weekend gave a restful feeling to the retreat. This allowed time for family activities, like cookie making, votive light painting, playing games AND solving a complex jigsaw puzzle. It also allowed the families to have ample opportunity to get to know one another. The time planned was a good mixture of spiritual activities, of craft activities and games, with plenty of free time to walk on the beach. The highlight of the retreat was the mystery dinner. I thought that everyone did a great job of immersing themselves into their character. Overall, the families seemed to have bonded with one another quickly and especially the teen group appeared to include (and enjoy) everyone.

---- Brian & Marybeth Phillips and their teens Kevin and Jean, Cary, NC

NewsFlash:

CFL: Meeting Growing Needs

CFLcan house many people but as the quantity of guests increases - sodoes the need to finish our "new" building.
Originallydesigned to be an apartment we have re-thought our practical needsand it will become more of a dormitory styleroom.
Adding up to 10 beds in this large spacewill allow more people to attend retreats at CFL. And it willbe ideal for our larger CFL families who ordinarily have adjoiningrooms.

Blessour volunteers who came to workandbuild community:

Neiland Joel Chapman, Ed and Scott Dobner,

JimKeck, Jim Rider, Marc Oglesby, Ed,Mattand Andrew Chatelain, Chuck, Adam,Andyand Aaron Piratzky. Also helping were

PauloChiquito, Tom Sheridan, Emelina and

EmilyMarsh&friend Hannah Smith, Collette,

Kathieand Elizabeth, Claudio, Michaela

Tena(and 2 daughters).

CFL Awarded Diocese of Raleigh Grant
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh, has approved a $5,000 grant for the Christian Family Living Center (CFL) to host a special weekend retreat for active military families. The retreat “Young Adult Military Families: Tools for Successful Re-entry into Family Life after Being Deployed.” will take place July 6-8, 2007 at CFL. This retreat is open to military families, of all faiths, who have a spouse home from deployment. This weekend is open to families of all military branches stationed at the following North Carolina military bases including: Cherry Point, Camp Lejeune, Fort Bragg, Seymour Johnson, and Pope Air Force Base.

Special presenters, featuring Jim and Sue Rider, familiar with military life, deployment and re-entry, will share successful techniques for a smooth and compassionate re-entry into family life. Structured adult and peer group activities and discussions help reinforce family bonds through affirmation, reconciliation, and commitment. The role of communication will be emphasized as this is an ongoing issue for military families – especially during

war time. These are the pillars of helping families grow in Christ by respecting self and others, communicating more effectively, listening more attentively, forgiving more readily, and playing more creatively as a couple and as a family.

Save The Dates: July 13-15, 2007

CFL Exclusive Parenting Retreat Weekend

Long-time CFL’er Greta Morris will facilitation this Christian focused program based on Kevin Leman’s book

“Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours.”

There will also be reference to “Children the Challenge” by Rudolph Driekers and “Positive Parenting” by Jane Nelsen.

Greta notes that she “has 20 years of challenging and mostly positive parenting.”

There will be activities for younger children to allow parents to attend discussion including:

· Helping your children to be responsible and successful

· Understand why children misbehave and what to do about it

· Developing the courage to do what is best for your children

· Maintaining authority without being an authoritarian

Retreat Fees: $90 ages 8 and older, $60 ages 2-7, $450 Family Max. $175 due with Application