Deep in Thought about JE Fundraising Goal!

So about this time of year, for the past 3 consecutive years we started raising money towards our Great Strides goal. It took several years after losing Bubba for us to get active again, so I feel as though we have to make up for all that lost time. As you all have noticed, we have raised our team goal to $10,000 this year. Rest assured I will not sleep until we have reached this goal for 2009. I hope to raise even more then the goal, and hopefully be in the running as one of the most raised teams this year. Yes, I know some of you may be thinking, "She is nuts, and will never reach her goal!" I just have one thing to say to that...."watch me!"


This fundraising event and journey, has become a huge part of my life, and just makes me smile when I'm alone thinking of Bubba, just knowing that I can do this for him. Yeah, my contributions now, won't help bring him back, but it will help me honor his memory in a way that I know he would be proud of me in. There are so many things in life that we look back on and say I wish I would have done things differently, and at 18 years old watching the one person in my life who had been there for everything, lose his life to a battle that he had no choice in, was the toughest turning point.

I regret not going and hanging out with him every opportunity I was given, instead being that teenager and doing my own thing. Now as an adult, I look back and say "Man if I had just done this with him, and gone there with him!" These types of things run through my head on a daily basis, even almost 9 years after losing him. I do believe that someone like Bubba is never forgotten, because he is thought about and missed by my family and close friends on a daily basis. He was...No doubt about it...the Best person I have ever meet!

I was talking to a JE team member the other day, and was telling her, that I feel as though this is the one thing that I can do to feel like I'm giving back to the time I lost with my brother, and in a way be active in a dream of his...to find a cure for CF!

Most of you don't know this, or have forgotten possibly, but Bubba was on the double lung transplant list...and man, I will tell you, when we went over to Dallas and heard that his name was officially added to the list...I had flashes into the future of him being here for all steps of my life. College, Marriage, Children, just growing up together, and he, Mandy, and I still having the opportunity to make the bond between us and Mom even stronger. In life, as I remember it, growing up, it was always us 4, and I cherish our memories, and longed that we would have that longer. I guess you can say, "I had false hope!" At that time though, it was the one thing that we had to grasp on to, and think that it did help us on the road to reality in the end!

So for all of you skeptics out there...who think I'm crazy and that there is no way that I will meet my goal...check back in June...and let me know what you think!

*Mom giggling at her crazy children in the background...and Mandy and I posing with Bubba after our glamour Shots in 1994 or 95'...time flies when you have hair that cool...oh, and I was sporting one of Bubba's old shirts, Mandy and I both were guilty of rolling sleeves and tying up shirts just so we could sport Bubba's clothes. Even though we were girls and 8 years younger...we always wanted to be just as cool as he was, even now!

Mark Your Calendar...April 17th

We will be having a fundraising event at J. Gilligan's, in Arlington, TX. Headlining the event; Grant Jones & The Pistol Grip Lassos. Details to come, but this will be an event that you won't want to miss...April 17th, 2009 at J. Gilligan's

Come One...Come All!

Proceeds to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Great Strides, and Jeff's Entourage!

For any team members interested in volunteering to help with this event, please contact me at samantha.relien@charter.net

You Found Me - Fray Lyrics

The lyrics to this song...just open up so many thoughts of wonder and questions of why things in life happen to good people. I just wanted to share the lyrics with all my readers and get their take on the meaning behind this wonderful song. The Fray has a way to put so many of my thoughts into their songs, it makes me wonder if I should have become a song writer... ;) Any how, I've just had a lot on my mind lately and this song helps me realize that I'm not alone!

I've also been missing my Bubba like crazy...he was always the one person I could talk to that would make life seem so much simpler. If that is at all possible. He just helped me see the sunny side of every situation. I just wish I could talk to him and hear his voice.

Lyrics

65 Roses Golf Tournament & Dinner

~Sunday, October 12th, 2008: I attended my 2nd 65 Roses Golf Tournament Dinner. This year the dinner was held at Lambert's which was delicious. After an upsetting Cowboy's game that started the night out, it was a sigh of relief to be among a close group of family and friends. Thanks to The Boy's the cocktails were definitely flowing, well "I blame them ;)~" Anyhow we sat down to dinner around 7:30 or so, followed by guest speaker and CFer Farrel Amis. Whom spoke a little of what the donors and volunteers mean to her and how important the research could be for her to live a longer healthier life. She started the live auction out by trying to raise money with roses that her and her mother brought from their home town of Tyler. Let me tell you, these were some of the most beautiful roses I have ever seen, and as of this date I still have one that is in full bloom in a bud vase in my bathroom. All in all, I believe with the sell of tickets for the dinner as well as the Live Auction and Silent Auctions held that evening, the CFF raised around $24,000.

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~Monday, October 13th, 2008: Mom and I joined the CFF Girls in the setting up and getting ready for the golf tournament. Despite the weather being a little gloomy, there was an excellent turn out. Last I heard there was an esitmated $65,000 raised towards the dinner and the golf touney. Keep in mind that $0.90 of every dollar donated to CFF goes to research. We are hopeful that a cure will be found soon and we can get the CFers on the road to breathing smoothly.

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~A Huge thanks to Jon and Susan Hellberg for their contributions to CF and finding the cure. I wish there were more people like them. Also, it was a great treat to be able to share the dinner with Brandon, as most of you know he is Bubba's best friend and partner in crime. He also has taken on the role of being a big brother to Mandy and I, as Bubba would have wanted. We cherish any time that we are able to spend time with him and his wife Betsy and their little girl Gracie

Jon & Susan Hellberg

Me with The Hellberg's

Drew & I

Mom, Brandon, and I

Mom & I

Brandon & Betsy

Shannon, Laura, Sam, Kathy, & Beverly

Huge Thanks to the group of ladies above...if it weren't for them the

Fort Worth/Tarrant County CFF Chapter would not be where it is...You Gals Rock!!!

Silent Auction Winner!!!

8 Years Ago. Today.

Our lives as we knew them were changed forever more. Losing a best friend, son, and brother; is what Mom, Mandy, and I were living in reality. Something I never thought 8 years ago would ever happen to our family. I have realized over the last 8 years that, life is never a certain thing. Just something you have to hold on to, and cherish every minute of. Not only do we remember you today Bubba, but everyday for the rest of our lives till we meet again. Your memory lives on in us, and we carry it everywhere we go. Thank you for your strength and watching down on us from Heaven. You are the Guardian Angel in all 3 of our lives, and I truly believe you have had a hand in guiding us through our lives for the last 8 years. We love you Always and Forever!

Great Strides 2009...

Yes, That's Right...we are already underway for planning the Great Strides walk for 2009. We will be participating on our team Jeff's Entourage this year, as well as; We (Me, Mandy, and Mom) will be joining up with Beverly James (Senior Director of Special Events for CFF/FTW-Tarrant Chapter) forming a committee to raise at least 15% more then 2008 ($121,000). Which means we will be shooting for an overall goal of $140,000 in 2009, if not more :)

Just wanted to make a quick post to keep all abreast of upcoming events.

Also, we are looking for any corporate sponsors that are interested in helping toward the "Cure Found" for Cystic Fibrosis. If anyone has ideas or questions regarding getting some corporate sponsors involved, whether it be the company you or your significant other work for, or possibly a family business, please feel free to email me at samantha.relien@charter.net. Please note: this a great way for name recognition as well as it is tax deductible.


Thanks,

Sam

I Share My Words & Thoughts...

Today I come to talk to you all about a very special person to me. Someone who many of you refer to as Jeff, but to me he is my "Bubba." Bubba was always there for me when I needed him, and I know in my heart that he still will be beside me in all that I do in my life. He was not only my brother, but he was one of my very closest friends. He always had the best advice and knew exactly how to make me smile when I wasn't having the best of time. Even though he suffered everyday of his life with CF and struggled every minute to breathe, he didn't dwell on it. He lived life to the fullest each day, never taking anything for granted, and always putting others first. As Joan Baez said, "You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you're going to live, NOW!" This was exactly how Bubba lived day to day, with no regrets, and I will always take that with me and remember everything he has taught me. When I was younger, I was told that my brother may not live as long a life as me, but I never believed that; because he was such a free spirit with so much life about him. Bubba always assured Mandy and I that no matter what lied ahead for him that he would be at our graduation. Before I walked across the stage to receive my diploma, I saw my brothers smiling face, happy as ever, sitting front row with camera in hand. I know Mandy and I made him proud that day. We feel blessed to have had a brother take such an active role in our life, and we will love and remember him forever...

I debated on posting this, to this blog. Seeing as though it was written and read for the services held for my brother when he passed. Then I remembered how much it took for me to stand up and read this in front of everyone, and the way I felt afterwards too! It was one of the hardest yet rewarding things I have been through. I know how much it meant for me to get up and speak for Bubba, and I did it not only for myself and Mandy, but more to honor him and what he means to me. Through the years I have realized how truly blessed I have been in regards to the family that God has given me in life. We all have things to be thankful for; my family, extended family, and friends, is what I believe is my one "Great Treasure", in this earthly life! Although I miss Bubba on a daily basis, I feel honored to have been such an important role in his life, like he was in mine! To those of you who had the chance to meet him, you know exactly what I'm talking about...he was larger than life, and my true "Guardian Angel!"

I experienced a lot during the month of September 2000, but also learned so much about the human spirit! I no longer am afraid of things that used to frighten me...in fact, I'm more curious then ever, about what my future holds for me. I know that I have Bubba who will always be here to help guide me through and listen to all my worries, and although he may not be able to give me answers, he will be there to catch me if I fall. I know he will, because he already has come through for me on so many occasions, and he and I know what those are! It may sound silly, but a bond you share with someone like Bubba is never lost, just goes to a different level! I truly believe that when I leave this world, my Bubba will be there to greet me with open arms, and although I'm not just ready yet, I get excited for the day that we meet again!

I posted this originally on my Myspace blog, and to me it was more like a journal post, and a way for me to get the word out about CF and Great Strides. The work we have done over the past couple of years for the CFF and Jeff's Entourage has given me something to hold on to, and dream about. I do believe that there is a cure for CF and I will continue fighting and spreading the awareness...until we meet that day, and then some!