Anchored Mamas:
Moms of a Child with Special Needs
For the mama who keeps showing up — even when she's running on empty.
For the mama who keeps showing up, even when she is running on empty.
You leave home with a quiet nervousness, trusting your child's care to someone else, stepping into a place you have never been, surrounded by women you have never met. But somewhere inside you there is a tiny spark of hope that says go. And so you show up.
You arrive weary. Maybe a little guarded. Carrying the weight of a life that does not pause. The appointments, the advocacy, the unknowns, the grief that shows up even in the good moments.
Whether you are still waiting on a diagnosis, navigating a new normal, or making plans for your child's future, you know what it is to feel invisible. To feel like no one quite understands the road you are on.
This retreat was made for you.
For three days in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you get to exhale. You get to be known. You get to rest your body, fuel your spirit, and remember that you are more than a caregiver. You are a woman with dreams, with strength, with a story worth telling.
You will leave with new friendships, resources that help, and a renewed energy to keep pressing on. You will leave having dreamed again.
This is a faith-based retreat presented by Lumina of Hope Foundation, a women's ministry dedicated to serving women in their most difficult seasons. This is our third Anchored Mamas retreat, and every year the women who almost did not come tell us it changed everything.
WHAT TO EXPECT
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All meals provided, fully gluten free and thoughtfully prepared
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Daily devotionals
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Guest speakers
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Gentle hiking and outdoor time
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A stunning luxury lodge nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains
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A large hot tub, fire pit, and s'mores under the stars
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A professional photo session on your last full day
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A private Facebook community to connect with fellow attendees and arrange carpooling before you arrive
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Shared accommodations (each attendee shares a bedroom with one other participant)
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Check-in: 6:00 PM on November 3rd
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Check-out: 9:00 AM on November 6th
HOW TO APPLY
We will begin reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Spots are offered on a first come, first reviewed basis, so do not wait to apply!
You will only be contacted once all spots are filled or if you are selected. Submitting an application does not guarantee a spot.
Applications open September 1, 2026 and close September 15, 2026.
FAQ SECTION
1 / Is there a cost to attend?
No. they are completely free to attend. The Lumina of Hope Foundation covers every meal, experience, and moment. If accepted, you pay nothing.
2 / How do I know which retreat is right for me?
The Anchored Mamas retreat is designed for moms of a child with special needs.
3 / When do I check in and check out?
Check-in for both retreats is at 6:00 PM on the first evening. Checkout is at 9:00 AM on the final morning.
4 / What are the accommodations like?
Retreats are held at a beautiful private luxury lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia, just 15 minutes from downtown Blue Ridge. The lodge features 5 bedrooms, a large hot tub, a fire pit, a game room, and stunning mountain views. Each participant shares a bedroom with one other attendee.
5 / How will I get there?
All participants coordinate carpooling through the private retreat Facebook group once accepted. Lumina of Hope does not provide transportation.
6 / What is the private Facebook group?
Once accepted, every participant is added to a private Facebook group where retreat details are shared, attendees connect with one another before arriving, and carpooling is coordinated.
7 / When is the application deadline?
Applications open September 1, 2026 and close September 15, 2026
