Summer Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n I guess Penni must have picked up on some wisdom from other camp moms when she announced her idea of hiding a little love note between Noah\u2019s underwear and his new swim trunks. Noah was nine years old, and this would be his first, week-long camp experience. Not wanting to be out-parented, I also put an envelope in Noah\u2019s suitcase. I just jammed my envelope toward the bottom.<\/p>\n The Envelope<\/strong><\/p>\n All week I worried if Noah would be homesick and waited for the phone to ring. Friday was here before I knew it. Noah walked into the house, and you could tell he had a good time. Story after story broke from his lips and then I interrupted. \u201cDid you open the envelope?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYea dad,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n Wondering, I asked, \u201cWell, what did you think?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI held it every night before I went to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n This past week Linda the social worker from Walk With Me called. She asked if I could stop by and see a family at our local hospital. You see, Walk With Me<\/em> is a pediatric hospice and palliative program, and I am a graduate. Our son, Evan died a couple of years back; I now have a strong passion to help other families on their journey.<\/p>\n The Redwood<\/strong><\/p>\n Before I went to see them, I wondered what I would say. While working in my wood shop, I remembered the story about Noah and the envelope. I soon found myself taking some old redwood I reclaimed from a deck on Lake Michigan and cutting it up into small pieces about the size of a harmonica. I then split each of those pieces in half, creating a mirror image of the other. In woodworking we call that \u201cbook matched,\u201d a technique often used when making fine violins or the interiors of a Rolls Royce.<\/p>\n So when Noah opened his envelope, there was no note but a small piece of redwood with all of the names of the other members of our family engraved there: mom, dad, Chelsea, and Evan. On the mirrored piece I kept, I had the name Noah written on it.<\/p>\n You see, I hoped when Noah opened his note from me, he would be reminded of his family. My plan worked. While he was holding onto his each night, I was holding on to mine and then laying it on my bed stand while I slept.<\/p>\n Redwood Transformed<\/strong><\/p>\n During my visit with the family, I told them about the wood and gave them a sample, asking if they had any ideas how this could help families, especially if a parent had to leave their child. While the dad and I talked, the mom was standing at the nurses’ work desk. Within about fifteen minutes, she had asked for ribbon, a pair of scissors, and some markers. Luckily I had come prepared.<\/p>\n When she was done, she showed me. When she put both pieces together like pages from a book her creation was an assembled heart. Each stick had its own inscription. One side said, \u201cLove ties us together,\u201d and the other \u201cEven when we\u2019re apart.\u201d<\/p>\n I just loved what she had done. I told her to keep it and to send me a picture. I\u2019m hoping this may be a new way to help families who are on the journey of having a child with a life-limiting disease.<\/p>\n Redwood Remembrance<\/strong><\/p>\n And if you\u2019re wondering, Evan had a piece of redwood too with all our family names on it. My half is still on my bed stand and Evan\u2019s was buried, neatly nestled in his folded hands.<\/p>\n What Do You Think?<\/strong><\/p>\n Scott’s story gives me goosebumps. I keep thinking of how his redwood idea could minister to so many parents of kids with special needs. How about you? What’s your reaction to his story? How would you like to see the idea used? Leave a comment.<\/p>\n Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop-up box and the second at the bottom of this page.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#b4dbc0″ custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiJCeSAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl9hcmNoaXZlIn19@” image=”https:\/\/differentdream.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Scott-by-the-pond.jpg” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100px” content_max_width=”800px” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _dynamic_attributes=”title” header_font=”Rubik|500|||||||” header_text_color=”#44465f” header_font_size=”14px” header_line_height=”32px” body_font=”Rubik||||||||” body_text_color=”rgba(0,6,69,0.6)” body_link_text_color=”#ffffff” custom_css_main_element=”font-weight: 400;” border_radii_image=”on|100px|100px|100px|100px” border_color_all_image=”#ffffff” box_shadow_style_image=”preset1″ box_shadow_vertical_image=”20px” box_shadow_blur_image=”40px” box_shadow_color_image=”rgba(68,70,95,0.27)” image_max_width=”100px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]Scott Newport is a carpenter who has a vision for unwanted, damaged wood. His finds are treasures to his soul. Each discovery he makes unfolds into a beautiful piece of furniture for which he finds a home, usually with a child or caregiver of a child with special needs. He writes about the life lessons he learns from his 3 children, especially from Evan who died in November of 2009 after 7 years of joyful life. To access all of Scott\u2019s guest posts, click on the magnifying glass at the top of the page and type \u201cScott Newport\u201d in the search box.<\/em>[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#42313A” button_bg_color=”#EBDCB2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_comments][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”159deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”#42313A 0%|#EBDCB2 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”#42313A” background_color_gradient_end=”#EBDCB2″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#1c1259″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”25px|0px|5px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”horizontal_optin_column_1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_text_align=”right” header_text_color=”#45107a” header_3_font=”Dancing Script|700|||||||” header_3_text_align=”center” header_3_text_color=”#B4DBC0″ header_3_font_size=”45px” custom_margin=”10px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_signup mailchimp_list=”JolenePhilo|89f719a52b” layout=”bottom_top” first_name_fullwidth=”off” last_name_field=”off” email_fullwidth=”off” module_class=”custom_emailoptin” _builder_version=”4.16″ form_field_focus_background_color=”#42313A” background_enable_color=”off” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” button_text_color=”#42313A” button_bg_color=”#B4DBC0″ button_border_width=”2px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|||on|||||” button_use_icon=”off” button_custom_margin=”5px||||false|false” button_custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” border_width_all_fields=”2px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_signup][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”EB Garamond|600|||||||” header_text_color=”#B6452C” header_font_size=”50px” header_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blog fullwidth=”off” posts_number=”3″ include_categories=”current” show_more=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_text_color=”#42313A” meta_font=”||on||||||” read_more_font=”|||on|||||” read_more_text_color=”#B6452C” read_more_font_size=”12px” pagination_text_color=”#B6452C” pagination_font_size=”20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Redwood, summer camp, & love notes don’t have much in common. Unless you’re Scott Newport. He used salvaged redwood to stay close to his son at summer camp.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43892,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Scott Newport<\/em><\/p>\nI guess Penni must have picked up on some wisdom from other camp moms when she announced her idea of hiding a little love note between Noah\u2019s underwear and his new swim trunks. Noah was nine years old and this would be his first, week-long camp experience. Not wanting to be out-parented, I also put an envelope in Noah\u2019s suitcase. I just jammed my envelope toward the bottom.\nSubscribe for Updates from Jolene<\/h3>\n
Related Posts<\/h1>\n
![\"Redwood,](\"http:\/\/differentdream.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/redwood-pairs-2.jpg\" "\\"Redwood")
<\/a>\n\nRedwood, summer camp, and love notes don't have anything in common. Unless you're guest blogger and carpenter Scott Newport<\/a>. Today, he shares the story of how he used salvaged redwood to stay close to his son Noah, who was at summer camp, and how he's expanding the idea to help families dealing with hospitalized children or the death of a child<\/a>.\nSummer Camp<\/h3>\n
The Envelope<\/h4>\nAll week I worried if Noah would be homesick and waited for the phone to ring. Friday was here before I knew it. Noah walked into the house and you could tell he had a good time. Story after story broke from his lips and then I interrupted. \u201cDid you open the envelope?\u201d\n\n\u201cYea dad,\u201d he replied.\n\nWondering, I asked, \u201cWell, what did you think?\u201d\n\n\u201cI held it every night before I went to sleep.\u201d\n\nThis past week Linda the social worker from Walk With Me called. She asked if I could stop by and see a family at our local hospital. You see, Walk With Me<\/em> is a pediatric hospice and palliative program and I am a graduate. Our son, Evan died a couple of years back; I now have a strong passion to help other families on their journey.\n
The Redwood<\/h4>\nBefore I went to see them I wondered what I would say. While working in my wood shop I remembered the story about Noah and the envelope. I soon found myself taking some old redwood I reclaimed from a deck on Lake Michigan and cutting it up into small pieces about the size of a harmonica. I then split each of those pieces in half creating a mirror image of the other. In woodworking we call that, \u201cbook matched,\u201d a technique often used when making fine violins or the interiors of a Rolls Royce.\n\nSo when Noah opened his envelope there was no note but a small piece of redwood with all of the names of the other members of our family engraved there: mom, dad, Chelsea, and Evan. On the mirrored piece I kept, I had the name Noah written on it.\n\nYou see, I hoped when Noah opened his note from me he would be reminded of his family. My plan worked. While he was holding onto his each night, I was holding on to mine and then laying it on my bed stand while I slept.\n
Redwood Transformed<\/h4>\nDuring my visit with the family I told them about the wood and gave them a sample asking if they had any ideas how this could help families especially if a parent had to leave their child. While the dad and I talked the mom was standing at the nurses' work desk. Within about fifteen minutes she had asked for ribbon, a pair of scissors, and some markers. Luckily I had come prepared.\n\nWhen she was done she showed me. When she put both pieces together like pages from a book her creation was an assembled heart. Each stick had its own inscription. One side said, \u201cLove ties us together,\u201d and the other \u201cEven when we\u2019re apart.\u201d\n\nI just loved what she had done. I told her to keep it and to send me a picture. I\u2019m hoping this may be a new way to help families who are on the journey of having a child with a life-limiting disease.\n
Redwood Remembrance<\/h4>\nAnd if you\u2019re wondering, Evan had a piece of redwood too with all our family names on it. My half is still on my bed stand and Evan\u2019s was buried, neatly nestled in his folded hands.\n
What Do You Think?<\/h3>\nScott's story gives me goosebumps. I keep thinking of how his redwood idea could minister to so many parents of kids with special needs. How about you? What's your reaction to his story? How would you like to see the idea used? Leave a comment.\n\nDo you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop up box and the second at the bottom of this page.<\/em>","_et_gb_content_width":"2880","footnotes":""},"categories":[3559,3581,3583],"tags":[406,533,3705,587,1038],"class_list":["post-30757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-different-dream","category-grief","category-spiritual-support","tag-family-2","tag-grief","tag-guest-blogger","tag-hospitalization","tag-scott-newport"],"yoast_head":"\n