VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SEE THE SLIDESHOW OF PHOTOS!
In a word, it was amazing. We had 110 golfers and about 30 more people who joined us after golf for the dinner celebration. We had 2 tables full of raffle items, and one table full of silent auction items. We also sold Jaiden’s Angel T-shirts. It was so nice to see so many people wearing their shirts that day.
The day began a bit overcast, which is actually perfect golfing weather. We assembled goody bags for all the golfers with beautiful print outs thanking all the sponsors, scented candles, bottle opener key-chains, assorted coupons and 2 golf balls with Jaiden’s Angel and the words:
The day began a bit overcast, which is actually perfect golfing weather. We assembled goody bags for all the golfers with beautiful print outs thanking all the sponsors, scented candles, bottle opener key-chains, assorted coupons and 2 golf balls with Jaiden’s Angel and the words:
Jaiden’s Angel
Sept 22, 2008
We all assembled in a long line on our golf carts and then the day began. At each hole, we placed a sponsor’s placard. Many of our sponsors choose to write special messages to Jaiden. We are posting a slide-show with all the photos onto our website over the weekend. I will resend a link to our site once this is done.
Paul and I golfed with Wendy and Frank, our very dear friends and Jaiden’s God-Parents. As the day wore on, the sun broke through and it was absolutely beautiful. This course is really amazing- wait until you see the photos!
As we exited the course into the tents where the dinner celebration was to be served, we were greeted by our 3 other children- Gage (3), Aspen (6) and Alexeigh (15).
We enjoyed an incredible meal of BBQ ribs, chicken, homemade beans and potato salad and assorted desserts. Then we had the kids come up (my 2 nieces and another family friend were also there for dinner) to help draw the raffle tickets and announce the tournament winners.
Before we made any such announcements, I read the story of the Angel’s Smile. I had a hard time getting through it, and I could see people crying in the audience as well, but I was so glad I got to share the story and the meaning behind our logo.
One contest we had was a 50/50 where you paid $5 to put into a certain hole. IF you got your ball in, your name went into a basket. Normally there are several names that go in, but we only had one person actually get the ball in! When we called him up to receive his share (half of the $430 raised), he refused to take it and he donated it back to the foundation. Ironically enough, this person went onto win about 3-4 more raffles AND he was on the first place team! Must have been good karma… The next morning he also placed an order on our website for 3 more t-shirts.
So in the middle of the raffles, my cousin Jodie came up to the microphone. She told the audience she had a special gift that she wanted to give me in front of everyone. She went onto say “Some of you may not know it, but at Holleigh’s house, their Christmas tree still stands. They normally leave it up until around March or April; but after this year, I don’t think it will ever come down. I saw the most amazing ornament, and I wanted to get it for Jaiden’s 9th Birthday.”
Then she presented me with a gorgeous white seashell ornament with a single pearl inside that read:
“Every life leaves something beautiful behind.”
The rest of the day at the course was a blur. We delivered all the raffles and closed out all the silent auctions; and by then all the corporate folks and strangers had left. When it was just our close friends and family, we went onto the course and release blue and white balloons for Jaiden, just as the sun was setting. It was the perfect ending to a very special day.
On our drive home, we made a wrong turn and ended up going the ‘long way’ through our town center. This turned out to be yet another gift from Jaiden. As we drove in the dark (it was not 7:45), I looked up to see in beautiful bright lights this message on the (KARS) Kincaid's auto repair shop marquee sign.
Remembering Jaiden Lyndi Tlapa
September 22, 1999
Then just about 50 years later on the Pasta Loft yet another sign:
Happy Birthday Angel Jaiden
Humble Pie and Early learning Center also had signs out for Jaiden. I felt the tears running down my face at that point. They were truly a mixture of tears of sadness and joy. I was filled with pride knowing so many people remembered our Jaiden. Seeing her name in lights at the end of the day was truly inspiring for us.
As we drove onto our street, we were greeted by one of Jaiden’s best friends (Mary) and her family. They were walking down to give us a gift- it was a beautiful hand painted dolphin sun-catcher. Then my niece Geena came over to present us with a book of poetry in which the poem she had written for Jaiden was published.
We went to bed with heavy hearts but peaceful spirits. In the morning, we discovered yet another surprise. Friends had left 2 trays of gourmet desserts, a gorgeous angel plaque with flowing wings intertwined with flowers that read “Angels Welcome Here” and a gift bag filled with all the makings for espresso martinis. My friends Lori and Linda have been talking about taking a hike into the woods to remember Jaiden and having an espresso martini. There was a blue blanket, a decanter, all the ingredients and 3 plastic martini glasses.
One final blessing came that night when Jaiden’s 3rd best friend Maddie stopped by with her family. She brought a special card she wanted to send Jaiden in Heaven. It was attached to 3 balloons. We all went out to Jaiden’s garden and sang happy birthday to her. As Maddie released the balloons- they traveled west, which is the normal way released balloons travel at our house. But they only traveled west enough to clear the trees. Jaiden’s garden is on the edge of the woods. As soon as the topped the trees, they cut back and began traveling east, high into the sky. We watched them for a long time, they seemed to be reaching higher than any balloons I can recall releasing.
If we had to experience Jaiden’s birthday without her, I could not image a more meaningful or special way to have spent it.
Here is a link to the articles that ran about the tournament. It was a tremendous success by the way- we raised much more than we thought, and I believe everyone who attended was truly touched by the spirit of our Angel Jaiden.
PLEASE SAVE THE DATE next year ~ Tuesday, September 22, 2009;
The rest of the day at the course was a blur. We delivered all the raffles and closed out all the silent auctions; and by then all the corporate folks and strangers had left. When it was just our close friends and family, we went onto the course and release blue and white balloons for Jaiden, just as the sun was setting. It was the perfect ending to a very special day.
On our drive home, we made a wrong turn and ended up going the ‘long way’ through our town center. This turned out to be yet another gift from Jaiden. As we drove in the dark (it was not 7:45), I looked up to see in beautiful bright lights this message on the (KARS) Kincaid's auto repair shop marquee sign.
Remembering Jaiden Lyndi Tlapa
September 22, 1999
Then just about 50 years later on the Pasta Loft yet another sign:
Happy Birthday Angel Jaiden
Humble Pie and Early learning Center also had signs out for Jaiden. I felt the tears running down my face at that point. They were truly a mixture of tears of sadness and joy. I was filled with pride knowing so many people remembered our Jaiden. Seeing her name in lights at the end of the day was truly inspiring for us.
As we drove onto our street, we were greeted by one of Jaiden’s best friends (Mary) and her family. They were walking down to give us a gift- it was a beautiful hand painted dolphin sun-catcher. Then my niece Geena came over to present us with a book of poetry in which the poem she had written for Jaiden was published.
We went to bed with heavy hearts but peaceful spirits. In the morning, we discovered yet another surprise. Friends had left 2 trays of gourmet desserts, a gorgeous angel plaque with flowing wings intertwined with flowers that read “Angels Welcome Here” and a gift bag filled with all the makings for espresso martinis. My friends Lori and Linda have been talking about taking a hike into the woods to remember Jaiden and having an espresso martini. There was a blue blanket, a decanter, all the ingredients and 3 plastic martini glasses.
One final blessing came that night when Jaiden’s 3rd best friend Maddie stopped by with her family. She brought a special card she wanted to send Jaiden in Heaven. It was attached to 3 balloons. We all went out to Jaiden’s garden and sang happy birthday to her. As Maddie released the balloons- they traveled west, which is the normal way released balloons travel at our house. But they only traveled west enough to clear the trees. Jaiden’s garden is on the edge of the woods. As soon as the topped the trees, they cut back and began traveling east, high into the sky. We watched them for a long time, they seemed to be reaching higher than any balloons I can recall releasing.
If we had to experience Jaiden’s birthday without her, I could not image a more meaningful or special way to have spent it.
Here is a link to the articles that ran about the tournament. It was a tremendous success by the way- we raised much more than we thought, and I believe everyone who attended was truly touched by the spirit of our Angel Jaiden.
PLEASE SAVE THE DATE next year ~ Tuesday, September 22, 2009;
for our 2nd Annual Jaiden's Angel Golf Tournament
Two beautiful articles were written, each one truly captures the essence of the day.
Two beautiful articles were written, each one truly captures the essence of the day.
I will be posting a slide-show of all the photos on our website over the weekend (http://www.jaidensangel.org/)
http://www.cabinet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/MILFORD01/809259994
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080923/NEWS01/309239932
Love, Holleigh
http://www.cabinet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/MILFORD01/809259994
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080923/NEWS01/309239932
Love, Holleigh
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