This is for you, Marilyn!

from cat:

A few months ago my brother-in-law, Todd, sent me a text message saying that he needed to tell me something. Now, if you know the lengths he went to to propose to Phoebe, and the secrets that I had to keep for SO long, you know that I was on the edge of my seat.

I remember, I was sitting in the parking lot of the Office Max. I'm paraphrasing a bit but, here is what he said:

"Cat, this whole thing with your mom sucks. I know you're upset, Phoebe is upset, she cries sometimes and I honestly don't know what to do other than to hold her. I wish more than anything there was something I could do to make this better. I wasn't going to tell you about this until the walk in Charlotte but the guys and I were all talking and we figured we should probably bring at least one person in on this so you know what's going on. The guys and I have been trying to come up with something to do for your mom since she came out to support us at our soccer tournament in December. We've honestly been planning this since December. We just think your mom is so special, we want to show her how much we love her."

**It's me, Cat, now** I'm going to be completely honest here. At this point, I was 100% prepared for him to say that he and the guys were planning a flash dance for mom. It's just where my mind went. I imagined Todd, Lee, Tuttle, Stefano, Vance, and all of their other soccer playing buddies jumping up at a random event and busting into a very well choreographed dance. I was wrong... but I'm still holding out hope. 

Back to the story: Todd then tells me that he and his friends have planned a soccer tournament. Not just any soccer tournament but, an annual soccer tournament in mom's name. The proceeds to go to the MB23 ALS Foundation. Her foundation. All for her. 

I cried right there in the Office Max parking lot.

He brought Phoebe and I in on it after it was already done. Can I just say again that these are a bunch of guys who in all honesty have only known our mom for a few years?? Seriously?? **Heart melt**

They presented this whole thing to mom and dad after the Charlotte ALS walk. Just about everyone that had a hand in the planning of this came to Todd & Phoebe's house and we sat mom & dad down on the couch and played this...

I know I'm biased but, have you ever seen a more beautiful woman? That smile will light up my life forever. And the people in our lives who helped us make that video?? Are you kidding me? We had videos coming in even after this one had been put together. They're the best.

After we all dried our eyes, we put our ALS Soccer Shootout t-shirts that Todd's friends designed and made for us and watched the video again. Man, we've got some funny people in our lives!!

 

So, if you are free on July 16, we would love it if you'd come out to the ALS Soccer Shootout. There will be some great soccer to watch (Todd and most of his friends played in college and some played professionally), bounce houses, food trucks, and lots of other family fun. You can register your own team to play and, if you are a business and are interested in sponsoring this event, please click on the sponsor tab and let us know! If you are just a person but would still like to help, please click on the donate button at the top of the page. Every little bit helps!

We will continue to post information about this event as we get closer. Thank you in advance for your support and your love for our momma. We think she is the most wonderful person on earth and we hope you all get a chance to be touched by her amazing spirit.

To Todd and his friends who set this up - thank you for loving mom like your own. You mean the world to her and as she said the night you played this video for her, "If I could talk, I couldn't."

http://www.alssoccershootout.com