Jul 11 - 13, 2025 - Weekends for Bereaved Parents
This is a weekend for bereaved couples and singles to spend some relaxed, unhurried time with other parents who understand the experience of losing a child. As we go through the weekend, we will learn from each other, pray for one another, encourage each other, and find out that we are not alone on this journey. Our goal at these retreats is to point grieving parents to our only true source of comfort, Jesus Christ. Anyone who has lost a child is welcome to come. You are welcome if your child has been in Heaven for thirty days or for thirty years. You are welcome if your child was stillborn and never took a single earthly breath, or if your child lived to be an adult and had a family of his or her own. Come, knowing you will be surrounded by people who care, who understand, and who will pray for you. This will be a safe place, a place where we can honestly discuss our struggles, knowing we will not be judged, because every one of us has been there at one time or another. We will also share our victories, and rejoice with each other as we move along the road toward healing. What will we do over the course of the weekend? We’ll talk about our kids in Heaven and we’ll pray for each other. We’ll explore the beauty of nature around us, enjoy delicious meals together, discuss God’s presence in our grief, and form lasting bonds of friendship. Our time will be informal, but structured. Certainly, we will cry together … but we will also laugh together. There is no cost to attend one of these special events.
Come, knowing you will be surrounded by people who care, who understand, and who will pray for you. This will be a safe place, a place where we can honestly discuss our struggles, knowing we will not be judged, because every one of us has been there at one time or another. We will also share our victories, and rejoice with each other as we move along the road toward healing.
Hosted in Alabama
Learn MoreAlabama
Our Alabama retreats are held in Huntsville at the home of Scott and Karen Harmening. The Harmening home is nestled on four wooded acres, with plenty of options for relaxing inside and outside. Enjoy one of the porches, sit by the pool, relax by the fire pit in the evening, or play ping pong in the game room. If you’d like to go on an outing, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center is eight miles away and Rainbow Mountain Nature preserve is five miles away. This event is open to both single parents and married couples. Please refer to our Purity Policy, found under the "About Us" tab. Lodging at the nearby Holiday Inn Express for Friday and Saturday nights and all meals from Friday night through Sunday morning are provided, and there is no cost to attend this event.
Scott and Karen Harmening
Scott and Karen’s daughter, Sarah, went to heaven on June 8, 2017, at the age of 17. She was killed in a bus crash while on her way to Botswana for a mission trip. Scott is an engineer and Karen, a former stay-at-home mom, spends much of her time serving through their local church. In their free time Scott and Karen enjoy spending time with their remaining daughters and sons-in-law, and their growing families. Karen blogs about their journey at www.ListeningtoHim.com.
Our Schedule for the Weekend (all times local)
Friday
4-5:15 PM Arrival time
5:30 pm Dinner
7:00 pm Sharing Our Stories (Part 1)
Saturday
8:00 am Breakfast
8:45 am Sharing Our Stories (Part 2)
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 pm Sharing Our Stories (Part 3)
3:00 pm Free Time
5:30 pm Dinner
7:00 Pm Topic Time
Sunday
8:00 AM Breakfast
8:45 AM Worship and Closing Time
10:00 AM Goodbyes
Frequently Asked Questions
Our retreats are 100% free, though we do accept a voluntary donation at the close of the retreat.
While We're Waiting is a 501(c)3 non-profit that operates entirely off of generous donations.