Kat and I stayed up till the wee hours of Friday morning (4:30 to be exact) talking about deep things. And then spent the hour and a half drive up to Lake Oconee. We had a lot to say!

My friend Jenn and her dad started this boat ride charity event for children with the Brain Tumor Foundation, Make a Wish and Startlite Foundation several years ago. Her dad died last year and Jenn recruited Kat and this year Kat recruited me.

The event was held at a wonderful little lakeside resort and all the kids had a great time taking rides on the Chris Craft boats and eating hot dogs and hamburgers. Despite three boats breaking down at the same time, the event came off without a hitch. Kat and I spent the day taking tons pictures and printing some out for each of the kids to take home as a remembrance for the day of fun in their otherwise pain-filled young lives.

It was so amazing and humbling to talk with these kids and their parents about their ordeals. So much pain and so many hopes dashed by failed surgeries, relapses and cancers that just won’t go away. And yet these kids are so resilient, so filled with joy! And their parents are so grateful for anything that brings a little normalcy and fun into their child’s lives. I can’t tell you how many times I was thanked for the boat ride event, even though I had nothing to do with the planning of it.

I loved seeing the smiles and expressions of complete joy on the kids faces. Especially when they got to take the wheel of a boat and "drive" for a little bit. My heart is truly full. It was filled that day just watching the kids have fun.

It got me to wondering why I don’t do things like this more often, charity events for sick children who need a little joy in their lives. I’ve often thought of volunteering at Vandy’s Children’s Hospital – especially as a cuddler for the littlest infants – but I’ve never actually filled out the paperwork. I keep thinking that I don’t have time at this moment, so I’ll wait till I have a little more time. I realized this weekend that I won’t ever have time to volunteer if I don’t just make the time. What have I been waiting for?