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2011
Thank
You
Message
Once
again we
stand
amazed
at the
outpouring
of
support
we
receive
and the
tribute
given to
Em at
the
annual
volleyball
tournament.
Many of
you have
been
participating
since
the
first
tourney
in 2006
and we
can't
thank
you
enough
for
showing
your
love in
a real
and
tangible
way to
Emily
and our
family.
Every
year we
continue
to meet
new
friends
and we
are so
happy
that you
join in
and we
hope you
feel
welcomed
and a
part of
what we
are
trying
to do.
Sure,
the
tournament
is about
participating
in a
good
game of
volleyball....it
was EM's
passion,
but so
much
more
than
that, it
is about
having
fun,
making
good
mEMories,
and
being a
part of
something
bigger
than
ourselves.
It's
about
experiencing
real
life,
and how
sometimes
we find
ourselves
struggling
with
grief
beyond
our
control,
we may
find
ourselves
living
ungratefully
for the
things
given,
and
hopefully
this
event is
about
enjoying
life,
being
grateful
for the
opportunity
to play
(whether
skilled
or
novice,
young
and
learning
or older
and sore ) and
being
amongst
friends,
sharing
in a
meal
together
and
simply
remEMbering
Em and
the
things
that she
enjoyed
most in
life....family,
friends,
a good
game of
volleyball
and
Christ.
I'm not
sure how
the
whole
Heaven
things
works
but I
hope EM
is
watching
(scripture
talks
about a
cloud of
witnesses). I
know how
much it
means to
our
family
to see
the
courts
busy
with
activity,
the cars
stretched
out from
one
entrance
to the
other,
people
mingling
and in
the
wings
anxiously
waiting
for
their
turn
again on
the
courts.
I'm sure
the view
is
different
than
what she
is now
experiencing
with the
perfect
sand,
played
on
courts
along
the
crystal
seas, in
perfect
weather,
perfect
sets and
amazing
blocks
and
unbridled
kills
with
angels
that dig
up every
attempt
to just
keep the
rally
going,
but I
know our
EM and
she
would be
watching
humbly
as we
show our
appreciation
for who
she is,
both her
on Earth
and now,
and she
would be
speechless
and
moved to
tears
but
mostly
she
would be
ecstatic
that we
are
continuing
to live
life and
have
some
fun,
beyond
the
heart
ache. I
believe
she is
cheering
each of
us on to
live as
she
lived
and live
this
life
with joy
and
anticipation
of the
life yet
to come.
As much
as we
appreciate
the
support
and
attendance,
we also
always
feel so
badly
about
not
getting
around
to talk
with
everyone
and
communicate
just
what
your
presence
means to
us.
It's a
very
busy and
emotional
day for
our
family
but we
so hope
that you
enjoyed
yourselves
and
found
the day
full of
fun. A
big
shout
out to
those of
you who
came
merely
because
of
knowing
us only
through
EM's
website.
We
consider
you dear
friends
and we
are
thankful
for your
love and
friendship
and for
your
commitment
and
support....it's
all too
much to
take in
sometimes
how God
orchestrates.
If we
were
unable
to make
contact
with you
or if it
happened
to be
brief,
we can
only
hope
that you
know
just how
much we
appreciate
you
being
there.
We don't
take it
for
granted,
but we
thank
God for
bringing
you into
our
lives in
small
and big
ways and
for the
honor it
brings
EM and
for
bringing
sunshine
into our
lives by
way of
such
overwhelming
support.
We hope
that you
come
back
year
after
year and
make
this an
annual
event.
It is
our goal
to do
this as
long as
there is
interest
and we
sincerely
hope
that is
is like
no other
volleyball
tournament.
We wish
for EM's
tourney
to have
a
different
"feel"
and that
it's
about
enjoying
each
other
and
standing
shoulder
to
shoulder
through
not only
the
great
game of
volleyball
and the
successes
and
losses
that it
can
bring....but
also the
correlation
it has
to life
and how
people
can be a
support
in love
and
loss.
It
rEMinds
me of a
letter
we
received
from a
coach in
California
who had
been
trying
to
recruit
Em where
he and
his team
expressed
their
condolences.
In his
letter
he wrote
"may you
experience
continued
support
in the
weeks,
months
and
years to
come
from
family
and
friends
and from
the
greater
volleyball
community".
Yes, we
have;
the
greater
volleyball
community
has been
amazing!
Thank
you to
our many
sponsors
who
every
year
come
with
monetary
contributions
and the
people who
donate
their
time or
supplies
to
enhance
the
event. Thank
you to
those
who came
to
watch,
those
that
just
wanted
to buy a
shirt
and
sport EM's
# and
for the
many
well
wishers
that
came
to hang
out,
watch,
eat, and
show
their
support. Thank
you also
to those
that
give
every
year
monetarily
because
of their
commitment,
love and
belief
in EM's
scholarship
fund. Thank
you for
always
being
there
and to
many of
you for
standing
by us
and
never
wavering.
Thank
you to
the many
that
just
tucked $
into
EM's volleyball
that
goes
towards
her
scholarship.
It is
all very
much
appreciated
and we
are so
thankful
for your
generosity!!
This
years
sponsors
include:
Buche
Farms
Kent Oil
and
Propane
Gregg
and Dawn
Davis
family/
Sysco
Tom and
Joan
Hanson
Jeff and
Teri
Livermore
Hudson
and
Darcy
Kerr
Jim and
Wendy
Behrenwald
Brian
and
Nikki
Brehm
Brehm
Well
Drilling
Jerry
Gilbert
Steve
and Lisa
Spetosky
The King
family
Clair
and
Kellie
Rowland
Sports
Embroidery/Kathy
Forman
Kelly
Burke
Bret and
Carol
Vanderwall
family
Joe and
Roxanne
Steenhuysen
family
Brian
and
Linda
Parker
family
Thank
you
again
for your
attendance
at EM's
tournament. Thank
you for
taking a
day out
of your
busy
lives to
share in
a day to
pay
tribute
to
Emily.
Thank
you for
being a
blessing
in our
lives
and for
the
support
as time
races
on.
Although
time
goes by,
our
heart
and
grief
rEMain
and your
presence
there,
warm
hugs and
smiles,
bring
some
healing
for a
day.
Thank
you for
the joy
we find
in
watching
all of
you
play!
It's a
game
that
brought
so much
joy into
our EM's
life and
we love
that it
continues
through
you.
We consider
you all
friends
and
friends
are
there
for each
other in
time of
need and
also are
there
for the
times of
joy.
Thank
you
being
both to
our
family!!
May
God
bless you
all and
here's
to
seeing
you all
back
again
next
year as
we
continue
to
remEMber.
Jeff and
Selena
Duits
Adam,
Sarah,
Rydik
and
Rowan
Wrubel |