Golf Outing Recap!

We are unable to count the blessings poured out upon us this weekend before, during and after the golf outing in Jacob’s memory.

Allow me to share the story of this outing from the beginning. For those who are excited to know the results, I suppose you can skip to the end. Spoiler alert: the results are awesome!

The thought raising funds for the NICU families and staff began a few days into our stay with Jacob. Although we were made to feel very comfortable and “at home” as much as possible, we detected that the staff desired to do even more for us and the other families. Small touches are not always part of an operational budget. Allow me to explain.

We followed in the shoes of other families who noticed the same things, and had decided to make a difference. Those families took the initiative, creating organizations to assist the families and staff in a variety of ways. One family’s organization raises funds for supplies such as comfortable chairs for mothers. Another raises funds for a seemingly endless supply of books for the NICU families to read. These special touches are indeed just that – special. They are outside the regular operations of medicine and treatment. Yet, the impact they have on comfort and healing is boundless.

The day after Jacob was born, we invited our pastor to baptize him. A thoughtful member of the NICU staff disappeared for a moment only to return with a tiny seashell. Our pastor used that shell during the baptism, making the event all the more memorable. We knew right then that we wanted other families to experience that same emotion and we noted for the future that we wanted to supply the entire NICU with enough shells to give each family this opportunity.

We also enjoyed supplying the staff with tasty treats throughout our stay. The rigors of the NICU often causes the staff to eat on the run. Having healthy (or occasionally not-so-healthy) treats hopefully assisted them to be comfortable in between those meal breaks. In fact, some of our friends and family supplied us with gift cards allowing us to purchase these items for our wonderful nurses. And so it went, day after day, accepting the love and service from these wonderful people and desiring to return the favor… some day.

Before we set out to accomplish this purpose, we needed time to mourn, and heal. For us, we realized quickly that the process of healing required us to do something impactful. Sitting still and sulking was just not an option. However, if we were to embark on this plan we knew we would need help in the form of a fundraiser. A golf outing was a natural fit for us.

Scheduling a fun golf outing, with this special purpose, near the one year anniversary of Jacob’s passing seemed an appropriate thing to do in order to celebrate his life and his impact on us. Our goal was to include close family, put together 5 teams, and raise perhaps $250. That amount would allow us to buy the baptismal shells for the families, and still make a positive impact for the staff themselves. We began to publicize the outing and by the deadline for golfer registration, we had 15 teams (60 golfers). We also had bountiful donations and sponsorships, coupled with personal stories of grief and triumph and support.  While we had over 20 special donations and sponsors – and are extremely grateful for those – the conversation and prayers resulting from our story were perhaps the most valuable.

The outing, held four days before the anniversary of Jacob’s passing, began with an ominous rain storm. Although golf was delayed, the golfers exuded patience and grace as we ate, played cards, and enjoyed fellowship with each other. Finally, the rain cleared and we were able to play nine holes.

I have played in more outings than I can count. But this was the first one I have organized, and the first in which I was able to host and personally great each and every golfer. That, my friends, was far more satisfying than any hole-in-one. In addition to the regular golf scramble format, we added an interesting challenge. One particular hole had to be played with just one club, from tee-off through the last putt. The club was determined by a slip of paper randomly chosen from a bag by the team captain. The idea: we must persevere through unexpected circumstances. Interestingly, most of the teams reported that they had either shot par or bogey on that hole – they were truly able to persevere in the face of that awkward challenge!

We were able to supply each and every one of the fifteen teams with at least something to take home with them as a “prize” due to the generosity of several sponsors. We were also able to add prizes for contests and giveaways. We are so very thankful to those who donated and sponsored our outing in order that we could make this a special event for everyone involved.

Finally, after the costs of the outing are deducted, each and every dollar of the proceeds will be used to fund our purpose of impacting families of the NICU and the staff caring for them. Due to the outpouring of love, volunteerism and generous gifts, we were able to raise ten times our goal: over $2,500.00!

Now you can see why our family simply cannot properly and fully express our thanks. Due largely to your kindness, we are able expand Jacob’s ripple effect beyond our expectations. Please allow our story to encourage each of you: do not allow your sorrow, or doubt, or despair hinder your understanding that God can do all things to His Glory, and that in everything there is the ability to set an example for those around you that each of us is made for a time such as this in order that God might make a positive impact for others through us.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen

Ephesians 3:20-21