Remembering.....

Two years later, on a day that was once an “ordinary day” but now forever “different” and “changed”…..our hearts continue to be stirring with a sense of loss….a sense of sadness….but, also a sense of gratitude for the Life of Chelsey, the joy she brought all us and the love she so generously gave. So, still… Chelsey’s memory remains a blessed presence within all of us. She taught us how to love, laugh, cry, serve and fully participate in life…….

The Top Ten Things My Sister Taught Me

10. Make sure you always have a roll of quarters stashed in your car. You never know when life will place you on a toll road.

9. Be loud, have fun, laugh uncontrollably, and dress boldly with big sunglasses.

8. Be generous...to family, friends, and even strangers on the street. It comes back to you 10 fold.

7. Pray...wherever you are…inside your car, outside a church, on a park bench in the wind.......

6. Life is not fair, but it is a gift.

5. Forgive EVERYONE and EVERYTHING. No matter what!

4. Life changes in the blink of an eye. But…..God does not blink.

3. Make every moment count....it does not matter how long you are on this earth, it is what you do with the time you are here.

2. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

1. Nothing ever replaces or changes the love between two sisters…not absence, not loss, not distance, not time....nothing......

Thank You, Team Chelsey 2009!

George Elliston once said, “How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it.” And so... what a “beautiful” day, March 15th was because of the kindness the members of Team Chelsey brought, unselfishly and with much love, to celebrate Chelsey’s memory and spirit. Again, we her family, thank you from the bottom of our heart.

Reflecting over the past 16 months, our gratitude towards each of you is immeasurable. Thank you for your continued encouragement, love, prayers, and support. Team Chelsey remains an instrument in our healing process, even now, more than a year later. Once again, you have allowed us to share with you this instrument, the gift of Chelsey’s spirit, and the memory of her love. Thank you, just simply thank you......

Through your continued generous contributions, we will now be able to continue to share Chelsey’s love and encourage her "spirit of living” with an Endowment Fund in her name at the University of Arkansas. We are already looking forward to Team Chelsey 2010. So... get your running shoes ready! One final thought that Chelsey would want each of you to remember:

"Life is not measured by
the number of breaths you take,
but by the moments that take your breath away."

Team Chelsey 2009 Photo Album

Please use cursor to navigate album, or click on album to view larger pictures and choose "view as slide show."

2009 Team Chelsey Race Weekend Festivities

Greetings "Team Chelsey!"

Race day is now a little less than 3 days away, and we hope you all are looking forward to coming together for another year in Chelsey's name. We just wanted to update each of you on t-shirt pickup, race day meeting place/time, and post race celebration.

1. T-shirts: T-shirts will not arrive in Little Rock until Saturday afternoon. We wanted each of you to have them before "race day." So, in the tradition of last year…….. We will be at the same Starbucks from 3-4 pm on Saturday for you to pick up your shirt. For those of you who are running, but won't come to town until Sunday morning, let me know, and we will come up with an alternate plan for you to have your shirt Sunday morning. The others of you who are not running or will not be in Little Rock, I am still planning on mailing your shirts, probably sometime next week.

2. Race Day Meeting Time/Place: The start and finish of all the races are located in the River Market Area. The 5K begins at 7:15 am (new start time this year) and the half marathon at 8 am. The actual start line is in front of the Clinton Bookstore. Let's meet for a pre-race "Team" photo.

3. Post Race Party: No gathering is ever sufficient without some type of party or celebration. In fact, Chelsey would not want it any other way!!!! Therefore, you are all welcome to join us at the house following the race for a light breakfast/brunch. We want to see and visit with each of you. It is the very least we can do to say thank you for all your love and support.

Looking forward to seeing and hearing from all of you this weekend!!!!

Call For Team Chelsey 2009

As I finished putting away the last of my Christmas decorations just a week ago, Feb 1st (yes, really it has taken that long), I was reflecting on the past year and reminded that another entire year has gone....another year of holidays, birthdays, celebrations, losses, successes, and almost 15 months since Chelsey’s passing.

We (Chelsey’s family) continue to find ourselves blessed by your kind thoughts, words and prayers. Those things along with your love and support continue to give us strength as we face each day and move forward.

So...as we have entered another year with a new journey, it is time to put out a call for “Team Chelsey 2009.” Many of you have already asked if there would be a Team Chelsey for the Little Rock Marathon again this year. I am humbled by so many of your (already) expressed interest, and I must apologize for my delay in posting information to the blog spot. The Little Rock Marathon is approximately 5 weeks away, but we still would like to get a group of you together again this year for Team Chelsey. Whether you have already been training for the full or half marathon, a relay team, or are planning to run/walk the 5K, or maybe prefer just being a virtual runner, there is a place for each of you, and we would LOVE for you to join in the fun of Team Chelsey. We hope to continue to share the gift of Chelsey’s spirit and the warmth of her memory. Team Chelsey was an instrument to do just that last year, and now, we plan to carry on the tradition again this year.

Last year, so many of you generously contributed monies for a scholarship fund; therefore, we wanted to update you on the progress of the establishment of this scholarship fund. With much thought and time, we have been working with the University of Arkansas to establish an endowment in Chelsey’s name. With the establishment of this endowment (which is still in progress, not yet complete….but soon, hopefully!), a scholarship will be made available to a U of A student on an annual basis. This endowment will allow for the scholarship to be available for “life.” It will also allow for continued contribution. We believe an endowment with the U of A will be the best way to continue to share Chelsey’s love and encourage her “spirit of living.”

One last word…..there will be a t-shirt again this year, and of course, a “post-race” celebration. (Chelsey never went anywhere or did anything without a party!) If you are interested in being a part of Team Chelsey, please let me (us) know. We certainly look forward to hearing from you. Again, we send our most sincere and humble thanks to each of you.