I've been tagged!

I've been tagged! Yes, you heard me right...Carrie over at Martin Manor Happenings tagged me to blog about what was happening 2 years ago today. I usually graciously bow out of these type of things, but out of curiosity I decided to go and take a peek at what pictures I had taken at this time two years ago. It just so happens that what was going on 2 years ago is also going on today. This is a subject very near an dear to my heart so I guess I am just going to have to bite the bullet and play along!

Not sure if you have ever checked the right side bar of my blog, but if you have, you may have noticed this button.

If so, hopefully you have clicked on it to see what it is all about.

If not, here is your time to read about one of the coolest foundations there is! Click away my friends!

So, where am I going with this story you ask? Well, my dear friend Suzi and I came across Jake's Caringbridge site while he was still battling Stage IV Hepatoblastoma, a very rare liver cancer. I won't go into the entire story (especially since you can read to your hearts content about it on the foundation site and the Caringbridge one) but to say the least we both became very attached to a family we had never even met before. Jake was forever healed and entered Heaven's gates on Oct 5th, 2006. Merely 2 months later his parents ended up winning 3.4 million dollars (YES, you heard me right...3.4 MILLION) on a progressive slot machine. Wowzers, Huh. With their winnings, the started the Jake Owen Raborn Foundation in his name and their mission is to help families with children battling pediatric cancer.

In June of 2007 they held the first annual "Shake 4 Jake" which is a fundraiser for the JOR Foundation. Since Suzi and I were so attached to the family and had a great desire to meet them in person (until then we had only exchanged e-mails with a few members of the family) so we flew down to West Monroe, Louisiana for a long weekend to help out with the "Shake."

Jakes Aunt "Mo" Melanie (you'll have to go check out Mo's blog!) took Suzi and I around the town and we had the opportunity to go to a crawfish boil. That was SO COOL! I love seafood, and it was just really neat to experience a local tradition.

The big event actually took place on June 30, 2007 and the entire evening was completely magical and extremely emotional. This is what you saw when you entered the front doors of the convention center.

Isn't that big "Believe" sign just awesome. That was Jake's family's motto throughout his battle. Cool, huh!

And this was the entrance to where all the shakin' went down!

Oh, and Green was Jake's favorite color too!

Let me say, Jake's family sure does have awesome taste for decorations. I had never been to Hobby Lobby before and since being introduced to it on our trip, I now understand why Melanie and Staci (check out Staci's blog too!) are so enamored with the place!

They had a silent auction, along with and actual live auction and these were just a few of the prizes you can win buy.

These are a bunch of the girls settin' up the silent auction. Far left is Jake's Aunt Bonnie, far right is Staci's best friend Veronica (that chick is a HOOT) and Staci is on the right in the black shirt.

That is Mo holding the balloons and you'll have to excuse me but I can not for the life of me remember everyone else's names. We met so many people that weekend my head was spinning.

Here's Mo and her hubby, Todd.

I managed to get a picture with Staci when she finally had a chance to sit down and take a break. We were both pregnant at the same time and our girls are only about a month apart. Pretty cool! She is such a sweetie!

And this is Don, Jake's sweetheart of a Daddy.

Oh, and here is me with PawPaw (Jake's Grandpa) and his wife Crawford.

This is some more of the "troops" taking a much deserved break later in the evening. Notice all of the GREEN. So cool!

This here is Jin Jin, Jake's Grandma and also Melanie and Staci's Mama. I can not say enough good about this lady. She met us at the airport (never having met us, mind you) and immediately offered us the keys to her brand new SUV to use for pretty much our entire stay! Well, we did get to drive Mo's Hummer for a day and a half too! Then Jin Jin brought us to her house to show us around and even showed us where the key was if we wanted to stop by any time! What a nice, nice lady.

Here is Jin Jin and Denise. Denise is another one of "us" (those who followed the web site but had never met the family in person) and she drove from CANADA! Yep, you heard me right. She even travelled further than us, and in a car all by herself, much less. What an angel she is too!

Me, Denise and Suzi having a blast together at the "Shake." Like my big Buddha baby belly? I wasn't due till Oct and some guy walked up to me and said I looked to be as far along as his wife who was 8 months prego...NICE! He ain't seen nothin'. I was twice that size when I delivered!

I am willing to bet I will have a bounty out on my head after sharing these last two pictures. The party really started hoppin' and good ol' Mo pulled a few tricks out of her hat...

...literally!

What a stinkin' hoot she is! Too bad I didn't really get to cut loose or I very well could have been up on that table myself! The rest of the family is just as fun. I am really bummed that I haven't been able to go back since the 1st year. It has expanded to have added a golf tourney and a kids carnival during the day. Maybe next year I will pack up the kids and we can all head down to partake in one of the coolest events I can think of!

This truly was a trip I will never forget. It was very emotional but also so very rewarding. I couldn't belive in it more if I tried!

Now, it's my turn to tag four other bloggers asking them this same question - What were you doing 2 years ago this very day? (or at least as close as you can get) Share some photos and your memories of that day 2 years ago...where in the world has the time gone?

I am tagging:

Melanie @ mojoy

Staci @ not to be outdone

Julie @ krumreipics

Melissa @ home is where your story begins