It's for the Kids

We are almost there.  Our 5th golf outing & reception.  I HAVE ZERO recollection of the first one.  I think I was there.  I think I even golfed in it.  I have no idea how hubby and I plan or pull it off every year.  Our own wedding required much less time and effort.

All in all, it's been six years since we've said goodbye to Vincent & Sofia.  With the battles we've faced with our other two, I can only imagine how we would have handled two other sick children.  It still doesn't make us wish they weren't here, but they have given us so much joy in their absence by allowing us to touch so many other families through the Foundation.  Just this week I was able to reach out to a new NICU family and share our story to give them some insight and familiarity with the world of preemie. I always send out my emails by closing my eyes before I hit send, because I never know how the recipients are going to react.  Fortune has it that we have yet to meet a family that we haven't kept a close eye on. Right now we are praying for baby Isaac.

Writing the programs for the event is always my job.  It's so hard for me to write, because the people reading it are right there in front of me.  I can't hide behind my blog, which most of the time is my protection from having to say things that I feel out loud.  It's on it's 3rd revision, my last tear and hopefully not my last smile.

Vince is in charge of the shakedown or "putting *sses in the seats." Something I can't do by nature.  He spends half of his work day on the phone with golfers and donors and all night catching back up on office work this time of year.  We always go in to the event saying "this is the last year" and then we end up adding more things to the charity for the next.  He's pretty much Matt Damon in this entourage clip:

I know that when the event kicks off, it will feel as strange as it does every year to see my kids' names printed on golf bags and materials.  It will feel just as strange listening to my husband wish the golfers off knowing he has the same feelings hidden under his smile.  It's hard, but it's harder not doing it.  In the sea of old and new faces, it's amazing to see the support that people give.  It blows our minds actually.

So thank you to my son and daughter for giving us the courage to do these things for other families and thank you to our sponsors and golfers for allowing it to happen.  We already started putting together a children's 1/2 mile race and 1 mile relay for the fall, so I guess this won't be our last year.  It's the people that give for their own reasons that makes it easy and gives us hope.  Thank you all.

Cheers to bigger and better things!