Namesake...Jeffory...

February 15th, 2011 at 2:18 pm our family gained it's second Jeffory...and we know a Jeffory was smiling down from up above.

My sister Mandy gave birth to her 3rd child Jeffory Nolan Blankenship, 8.5 lbs and 20.5 inches long, this bundle of joy is the light of our worlds, along with his two sisters Joile and Nina.

Congrats to the Blankenship Family...I love you all more than words!

Nathan, Tricia and Gwyneth Lawrenson

What an inspiration Tricia is...and what a beautiful family...love how they have persevered through so many obstacles and are still wearing AWESOME smiles!

Upcoming Events...

Come out and support Cystic Fibrosis and help us make CF stand for Cure Found...

We have 2 exciting events coming up in the next few weeks...

August 18th, Chili's Give Back Day, print the coupon below and take in to any of the 26 participating locations and have the waiter attach to your receipt from the meal and 10% of the ticket will come back to the NE TX Chapter - Ft.Worth Office and will benefit our local Cystic Fibrosis Pulmonary Care Clinic located at Cook Children’s Medical Center, where hundreds of North Texas CF patients are treated each year, with the newest treatments and best CF medications as they become available, and to assist in financially support the efforts of the national researchers that are working to find the cure for cystic fibrosis, and developing new treatments to help those who suffer with this devastating disease.



September 2nd, Benefit Happy Hour and Concert, The CFF NE TX Chapter - FTW Office and BlackFinn American Saloon in Arlington Highlands will be joining forces on Thursday, Sept. 2nd from 5:00 - 8:00 PM to raise funds to help the CFF at adding tomorrows every day.



Please come out and support the Chili's and BlackFinn Give Backs...and let's give back to our local Cook Children's CF Pulmonary Care Clinic!

I've Been Bad...

Seriously...am I the only one who gets home from work and asks..."where did the day go?" I've been so consumed with the learning process of my new job, that I've failed at the other activities that used to keep me sane...like my blogging. As you all know I'm now an employee of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and I can now say,"Working at my dream job!" Don't get me wrong...I do miss the daily hussle and bussle with my Posse, but I'm doing something that makes me smile every morning on the way in to the office, which I know in the long run is the most important thing for me as an individual. This post is just a reminder to all that even though I'm working for the CFF as an employee first, I still 100% intend on keeping up with my fundraising efforts for Jeff's Entourage, and still will continue the role as team leader, of course with my main co-leaders Mandy and Mom.

We are still going to be continuing the annual concert in the spring and I will periodically post upcoming CFF events on the blog to keep all my readers abreast of the event calendar. Speaking of...I've included that with this post...if any one is interested in any of the events or have any questions please feel free to contact me at srelien@cff.org.

Sixty-Five Roses
10th Annual Golf Tournament
Golf Link to Chapter Website
September 13, 2010
Join the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for the
10th Annual 65 Roses Golf Tournament
at Mira Vista Country Club. This 1st class
tournament will consist of four-person teams,
best ball format. Sponsors receive player
gift packages, pre-tournament couples
reception and dinner*, lunch, GREY GOOSE
cocktails, gift bags and awards reception.
*Limited to $3,000+ sponsorship levels.
For more information please contact
Beverly James at 817-249-7744 or
via email at bjames@cff.org

10th Annual 65 Roses Wine & Food Extravaganza
Food & Wine Link to Chapter Website
October 27, 2010
Held under the stars at La Paloma, this 10th
Annual event will feature our area’s most
renowned chefs, presenting their signature dishes
complimented with exceptional wines chosen
especially for this event. Enjoy the
sounds of Texas Artists while bidding on the
live, silent, and big board auctions.
For more information please contact
Melanie Hanna at 817-249-7744 or
via email at mhanna@cff.org

Inaugural CF Climb for Life
CF Climb for Life Link to Chapter Website
November 13, 2010
The Climb for Life is a fun and challenging event where people will huff and puff their way to the of 22 floors of the Burnett Plaza building for a great cause. It is more than your typical 5K. Whether climbing for a winning time or simply to cross the finish line….this event is a great way to challenge yourself. You can set your own challenge but more importantly, you’ll share in the victoryand in the fight in finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.

Registration Fees:
06.01.2010 - 09.30.2010 $25
10.01.2010 - 10.31.2010 $30
11.01.2010 - 11.10.2010 $35

Minimum Pledge Requirement: $150

To register for this event visit www.CFF.org/Chapters/FortWorth or call 817.249.7744

Sponsorship opportunities available.


XOXO ~ S

A loss for words...

As I sat back this morning with my breakfast and decided that I'd brave Sarah's newest post over at Not so Bright and Shiny...I wondered...how she sat down and did this...so fresh and new on her heart...the day we lost my brother is a day I'll never forget...much of the stuff she described...well we went through it too...sure we were in the confines of a hospital room...but all of the very same stuff happened...Family and Friends coming to say their last goodbyes (at that point I was in shock and pretty numb as to what was happening around me), Doctors and Nurses saying their goodbyes too, not doing much for him except monitoring his pain...A few days prior to Bubba's passing when he was still lucid enough to talk or was it his previous hospital stay a few weeks prior, again kind of blurry...he asked our very dear friend (Vanessa) to sing at his funeral (a particular song, In the Arms of the Angel by Sarah McLaughlin)...how did my sweet friend sit there and take that request at such a young and venerable age...I mean at 18 it is a lot to take on something like that...but she did it with grace and a proudness and I'm forever grateful for this request and she did him so proud at his funeral. I remember Sam, Lisa and I spending the night up at the hospital the night before his passing or was it 2 nights before...that week seemed to all run together...we were so uncomfortable...but weren't...we were there for a reason (To be with our Brother and that made all of our discomfort go away...how could we be uncomfortable while watching him, seriously?!?!?) I remember his last breath here on this Earth...I remember all of us surrounding his bedside touching and caressing him...I remember screaming at the top of my lungs "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" when it really happened...HOW DID THIS REALLY HAPPEN??? was what was going through my mind?!?! Where did my laughing - smiling brother, friend, hero GO? I remember making the call to the love of my life that couldn't be there because he was away to college and telling him that my Bubba was GONE...he was GONE...I remember him showing up the next day to be with me and my family...After I saw him I knew things would be ok and that he would take my brother's role forever as my protector...he has done my brother proud. Why am I writing this...I really don't know...except that I'm not quite sure I've every expressed all of this in words...I kind of went numb after it all happened and sure I've talked about him and love him more now then ever...if that is even possible...but I just want him to know I'm safe and that he is never out of my mind or heart...he is always in my thoughts and prayers and Jolie knows and talks to him at prayer time just like Nina and all of our children will one day when they are able to understand a little more...Uncle Bubba would have loved these girls with all of his heart...they would have been his everything...just like I know Sam and I were to him...the love he had for us was just something that is unexplainable...and I Thank God everyday that I know what that Love is...Everyone should be loved how he loved US...

Ok enough blabber from me...I was able to stomach one bite of my toast this morning while reading Conner's last song...Like Vanessa sang at Bubba's service...In the arms of the angels....Fly away from here...you will forever be in our hearts Connerman!!! Tell my Bubba I love him and miss him!!!

{Mandy}

Damn You CF!!!

WHY?!?!? Seriously!!! I Hate you CF!!! Please keep Conner in your thoughts and prayers...he is losing his fight with CF...it breaks my heart that another family has to lose a precious life to this stupid disease...Conner you have touched all of our hearts...I want to Thank You for that!!! Breathe easy little guy...


http://notsobrightandshiny.blogspot.com/

Lift this family up in Prayer...

This is a blog I found a few months back and I just can't believe that they are going through this...I hate it...This little boy "Conner" has so much life to live and this young family deserves all the time in the world with their 3 boys...her last few post pretty much sums up what it's like going through the steps and motions of losing a loved one...I wasn't the mother of a CF'er, but I was a sibling and bestfriend to one and this is exactly some of the feelings I struggled with then and even still now and I know my Mom can relate to all of this...I just thought if I pointed some of you that way that you could send a few extra prayers up for Conner and his family while they go down this path. He made the decision a few weeks back that he was done with the hospitals and IV's...so they are honoring his wishes...what a brave little soul and brave family!!!

Not so Bright and Shiny

Thanks...Mandy