As the Team Vogel Season kicks into gear, the planning is in place and the Hot Dog stand is almost ready to roll.  Stop in for a brat or hot dog for lunch - place an order for delivery - or swing through for an afternoon snack.  

It is time to dust off your cleats and start stretching.  We are looking for more teams to fill...

We are looking for ladies who are looking to have a good time and play a little softball.  I will be honest - I don't even have cleats anymore, and my skills are a little more than rusty, but I always lace up my running shoes - borrow a glove and play.  I may not walk / move the following day - but it is always a blast.  Please help us spread the word and find interested teams for the Team Vogel vs Cancer Women's Softball Tournament on Sunday - June 30th.  Click HERE for registration details.

If you are not a lady or interested in softball (I am keeping this clean and friendly - for it would be so easy to make some "Rach" comments about the difference in equipment used for each sport...) maybe kickball is your event. Gather a small crew and give kickball a try.  All levels welcome.  If you are interested in signing up a team - click HERE.  Please feel free to spread the word if you know some real kickball-go-getters.

For a list of all events taking place on Saturday, June 29 - 2013 (and Sunday, June 30), please look under the main tabs - Team Vogel Fundraiser 2013.

Amazing people come in and out of our lives everyday.  Sometimes we are lucky enough to know them and their story - other times we are fortunate to just get a glimpse into their world.  I was fortunate enough to know one amazing man who took life on with grace and humor everyday.  After viewing this - I hope Joe has made his rounds and met this young man.  I can picture them jamming together and signing...

An amazing song, created by an inspiring person that I don't even know...
http://www.cities97.com/articles/featured-427340/inspiring-singer-zach-sobiech-has-passed-11302797/

Memorial Day weekend - a time for family, friends, being outside (not so much this year) and enjoying great conversation.  I share this next list of events with all of you for I feel we can all put ourselves in this family...  If we kick back - truly listen to our families - we will find moments and words to cherish on days we are grumpy and just need to smile.  

Now picture yourself in a cabin, overlooking a lake.  It is raining outside and family and friends of all ages are gathered inside eating and chatting.  In one area of the room - your younger sibling is explaining to your significant other why dinosaurs are extinct.  Your mother announces she finished "Fifty Shades of Grey".  

And what would a gathering be without a funny clip from the internet...  Prior to watching this video - one sibling shares, if the animal kingdom ever had an olympic event for farting - the hippo would sure win.  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0xGp3jWWUk.  (Please note - if you are disgusted by farting - this clip may not be funny for you.  I personally laughed harder at the comments made from those at the zoo...)

As the day evening turns to night, the comment is made "She can hear flies fart".  (I definitely intend to use this phrase in the future.)  Mean while dad is resting his eyes on the living room sofa, gently snoring.  He awakens and immediately states - "We need to take it out."  A hard afternoon of work causes some to continue on in there sleep.  After acclimating to his surroundings, he settles back in for a little more shut eye.

And a weekend would not be complete without one family member discussing a fertility rock that can be visited in HI...  Someone is interested in having great-grandchildren...

It's the simple moments.  We can choose to let them pass us by, or we can embrace them and cherish the moments we have.  

Thank you to the gang that has welcomed me into their family for many years.  Truly - you are all amazing.

Hoping many of you enjoyed your weekend too.  
Hugs -
Rach

Parents - you can't pick them...  All you can do is love them.  (For the record I am lucky - I would pick my parents too.)

As I share this story - I hope it brings laughter and a smile your way.  And Dad... I LOVE YOU!

Yesterday I was outside working on this and that, I ran upstairs to get a drink of water and my phone was flashing (meaning I had a message).  Now for those of you who know me - my phone and I do not get along the best at my house.  I typically don't have service or it just plain old will not work.  

So, I was completely surprised to see I had a message.  I picked up my phone - a missed call from dad and a text from dad.  The text was a little hard to decode - so I just called my dad (and again my phone worked).  

Dad answers and asks if I can come over.  I asked if it was an emergency - or could it wait a bit, for I was in the middle of a project.  He says that it is sort of an emergency... still he is not giving me any details.  I am getting a little nervous.  

I ask, "Dad are you OK?  What's going on?"

Dad says, "Well I'm sort of stuck on the roof.  The wind came and blew my ladder away."

I am not sure if my dad was through with his story at this point, but I busted out in laughter and said I would be right there.  I considered bringing my camera and taking a picture of him up there before giving him the ladder back.

Moral of the story - make sure your ladder is secure :)... and even more important - I'm just glad it was only a sort of emergency.

(It was pretty priceless pulling into my parent's and seeing dad just chillin' on the roof.)

Although it was a bit windy for the 3rd Annual Golf Outing, it was still an afternoon full of golf - good company - and many laughs.  Thank you again to all the hole sponsors - golfers - and individuals who made the event happen.  Here is the 2013 Golf recap through the lens of Keelie Ritter...

This past Saturday - Team Vogel was embraced by 4 wonderful instructors, the YMCA and many individuals who can move.  I am so thankful to Jackie for coming to Team Vogel and wanting to hold a Turbo Kick Event for us.  I promise I will bring shoes next year and join in.  Thank you to all who attended.

Signing off for the day.  Hoping all of you had a great weekend and survived the storms last night.

Peace and Hugs - 
Rach

I wish our paths did not cross for this reason...  but I am honored to share the 8 families who will receive funds raised from the 2013 Team Vogel vs Cancer Fundraisers (along with cancer research - Gundersen Lutheran and a patient fund - Franciscan Skemp).

Meet the Families...

Here are the upcoming events (for the big / final fundraiser of the year) and registrations.  We hope to see all you on Saturday - June 29th - Maybe we will see you running...walking...playing kickball...tossing some bags...or kicking back enjoying the day at Lake Park (Jaycee Pavilion).

Before I get into all the events for our June 29 fundraiser - just a quick reminder to all the turbo kickers out there - or people who want to give it a go for the first time and a good cause.

The 4th Annual Team Vogel vs. Cancer Run/Walk will take place on June 29, 2013 at the Jaycee Pavilion by Lake Winona.  Race time is 8 a.m. for both races, with check in and day-of registration taking place from 6:30 - 7:30 a.m.

Pre-registraion costs are $20 for the 5K race and $15 for the 1 mile race.  Cost includes a Team Vogel t-shirt.  Costs increase after June 15 and t-shirts are not guaranteed.

Lace up your shoes and stretch your legs.  If you wish to see more information about the race - or to register, please click HERE.

Gather a group and sign up for the softball tournament.  Men's softball runs on Saturday and Sunday - Women's is on Sunday only.  All details and registration can be found by selecting the above link or clicking HERE.

If softball is not your game - maybe kickball is.  Check out the details (by clicking HERE) and gather your crew...  all levels welcome :).

Cornhole - Bags - Bean Bags...  It's all the same game.  Grab a partner adn join in the fun.  All details are listed HERE.

For those who may not be interested in the sporting events or able to attend the main fundraiser on Saturday - June 29th...  You can still help us "Pay it Forward" and help promote our Cancer Blows - Pinwheels Sales.  Each year we sell pinwheels in honor of / in memory of someone.  The pinwheels are then placed along the race course on Saturday morning.  If you are interested in purchasing pinwheels - selling pinwheels - or just more information - please click here.  We would also be willing to make you a pinwheel bouquet for your office if you wish to sell them there.

Before I head off here to catch up on my evening news...  I want to thank everyone for the wonderful weekend and turn out at the 3rd Annual Golf Outing.  Although I wish the wind would have been a little warmer - the pinwheels looked great in the breeze :).

Thank you to all the golfers for making the event a success.  Thank you to Jeff for all his work in coordinating the event - the hole workers who spiced up the holes and survived the breeze - Keelie for taking all the photos - Cedar Valley Staff - and for all the fun and laughter people brought to the course.

The Golf Recap will be up next weekend - stay tuned for pictures and the winning teams.

Before I sign off today - I also want to thank my family.  It was wonderful seeing many of you this weekend and catching up.  Often, time passes - or life gets too busy...it was refreshing to spend time with all of you.  Thank you for making the trip to Winona... and Uncle Craig - I will continue to work on my golf swing...once I regain the muscles I broke yesterday.

Love and Hugs - 
Rach

Thank you to everyone who made it out for the 2nd Annual Joe's B-day Brew Review.  There was a wonderful turn out again this year.  I am proud to say we had 217 people in attendance - sampling this year.  The atmosphere was wonderful - people socializing, sampling, enjoying an evening out... 

A special thank you to all who helped make the event what it was.  Karen, Deb and Ed - thank you for all your help planning and preparing everything.  it is always a pleasure working together.  Thank you to Bob and the Legion for having us again this year.  To all the volunteers - the table and chairs crew - the pourers - and the clean-up crew.  Thank you for helping make this happen...

As time moves forward, and life continues to happen - I continue to try and embrace things and make the best of each day.  Last Monday (April 29th) was Joe's Birthday.  In the past, this has been a hard day for me.  I wish there was an explanation - a way to understand why one day you can keep it together and the next you feel like you were hit by a truck...  

The past two years I decided it would be a good idea to run a half marathon on Joe's Birthday.  Something to keep my mind busy - and a goal to complete.  This year, I considered it, but I let life get too busy and just decided to go with the flow and see how things went.  They went...  Tears did not find there way this year - the truck never found me either.  This year I found myself reflecting more on how grateful I am to have had the 7 + years I did with Joe.  He was an amazing person and I am so thankful to have had the time I did with him.  Joe helps make me the person I am each day - and I truly believe he has and continues to impact a community everyday.

I miss him like crazy.  That will never change.  The one thing that does change - I continue to live each day and everyday is different.  The bad days are fewer...  The happy memories remain...  and this year Joe's Birthday was not one of the hardest days of my life.  It was one of my most thankful.

It also helps having wonderful people in your life...  My neighbor brought over a birthday drink and snack in honor of Joe.  My favorite = wine and Joe's favorite = chips (of course they are Frito Lay) and homemade dip.  

As spring finally appears to be heading our way, I am happy to announce the golf course is looking green instead of white for the upcoming Golf Outing on Saturday - May 11th (Start time - 1pm).  The Tournament is full - 36 Teams of 4.  We still invite you to come enjoy the afternoon on the patio with us even if you are not signed up to golf.  The surroundings are beautiful and if the sun is shining the patio is the perfect place to be.  Hoping to see many of you Saturday.

A brief view from last years outing...

Cheers to the sun that is shining outside and the warmer weather that is headed our way.

Peace and Hugs - 
Rach