Saturday, July 20, 2013

Always Remembered

In my opinion, one of the most difficult parts of losing a loved one is knowing people forget. When I lost my parents I was warned of this. I forgot about this piece of information after I recieved so much support after the first couple of months. Five or six months later I started to see how everyone else went back to their lives, and some people let it slip their minds. I don't mean this in an ungrateful way, but everyone has their own trials and tribulations to go through. It is understandable to let things go. For those of you who don't know about the tournament I host, the Judson Collegiate and Legends Pro-Am Challenge, here is the back story.

My head coach at Southern Miss, Julie Gallup, approached me a couple of months after my parents passed away and proposed we have a women's collegiate tournament in their honor. I remember standing in my living room on the phone with her and the words "Masters of women's golf" were said. For me this is when I had to do something. My parents went above and beyond whenever they were asked for help, and sometimes when they were not asked. They were two loving people who always put others before themselves. So in November/December of 2011 I got serious about the tournament idea. I talked with my amazing Godparents, Kirk and Kathy, and they talked with local golf clubs to see what we could do. After talking with many clubs, we had a mutual agreement and decided on the Country Club of Roswell (CCR). My parents were members at CCR before I was born, and this is the course where I first swung a golf club. I have also lived in the Willow Springs subdivision (CCR golf course runs through the subdivision) my entire life, and am sitting in the same room where I learned to walk. The point I am getting at is the Country Club of Roswell/Willow Springs community is my family. Jackie Cannizzo, who is on the of the teaching pros at CCR, is friends with 13-time LPGA winner Rosie Jones. After the LPGA Chick-Fil-A tournament ended it's run in Atlanta, players have been trying to find a way to get back here. Rosie is a member of the Legends Tour (see link!), and proposed we combine our events. At first I was a little intimated by this offer. It was a scary thought to host a professional AND a collegiate event at the age of 20. I have a great team who have been behind me from the beginning, so it made my decision to go ahead with it a little easier. By the time we all came to this decision, we had around six months to plan it. For those of you who don't know how much work goes into planning a golf tournament...let me just tell you it takes wayyyyy more than six months. The first year was a huge success, but this second year far exceeded my expectations.

There was a reason why we only had around six months to prepare for last year's tournament. Tournaments, no matter how big or small, require volunteers. I was convinced the quicker we start the event the more volunteers we will have. I was scared about more time passing and more people letting go. After the second year, I am overwhelmed with the amount of support I have received. My parents are people worth remembering, and I'm so very blessed to know my family (community) feels the same way. I was worried all the work my parents did for other people would be forgotten, but I have had so many people tell me stories of the great thing my parents did. This tournament is a way for me to honor the two most influential people in my life, who have also helped so many other people. I am so fortunate to have such amazing family, friends, and community who feel the same. It is even more special to have so many people who never met my parents support the event, and take time out of their busy lives to remember. 

Not a second goes by where my parents leave my mind, and I have found others who feel the same way. This is just a big thank you to everyone who has been constantly praying, thinking, rooting, and supporting my family and me as we still deal with our loss. I also want you to know when I think of my parents, I think of the love I have found  through all of you. This is an apology for thinking y'all forgot, because you never did. Thank you for proving me wrong. 


God Bless, and always remember....


"Life is too short for cheap wine"
-Beth and Jim Judson 




LRJ

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