Team Bungard

Team Bungard THANKS YOU!!!!

A HUGE thank you to all who supported us doing the 5K at Out Run The Sun!  Our team was in the top three teams for fund raising.  Hearing Team Bungard over the loud speaker was pretty cool.  We couldn't of done it without you.  And to the anonymous donors -- You know who you are--Thank you very much!!  Monetary and non monetary support - every bit of it was very much appreciated.  Thank you for supporting our family.   

It was amazing to be there.  I was a little apprehensive a few days before we went down to Indianapolis - the emotions begin to take over now and then.  That quickly changed when we got to the site of the race.  It didn't take long to notice we were among a crowd of at least 600 - 700 people.  And those people with us were all there to support a common goal.   We felt blessed to be among the crowd.  It felt good to be there as a family and doing our part to help with awareness and research. We had a great time just being together creating yet another memory for us all to cherish. The memories hold more meaning now days then they used to. 

I have a group picture that is on A's camera - so when she has time from to get it to me I will be happy to share it.  We will do the race again because we fill lead to do it in Randy's memory.  I know he was there in spirit and if the tables were turned - he would be doing the same thing. 

"When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasurer."

(saying worn on the back of our shirts)





Team Bungard

                            In Randy's Memory

Thank all of you for following my blog and the tremendous support along the way.  Our family has taken on a new adventure in memory of Randy.  We will be participating as Team Bungard in the upcoming Outrun the Sun event on Sunday June 2nd in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Outrun the Sun, Inc. is dedicated to building national awareness of melanoma and other skin cancers, educating communities about preventive measures that reduce melanoma’s incidence rate, and to raising funds for melanoma research, leading to effective treatments and a cure.

Our family appreciates your time, effort, donation, prayers and most important your support.  We ask that you forward the following link to all your friends and relatives should they also be interested in supporting our team.  All donations are so important to the cause. 

The following link will take you directly to our team page, as well as links to find out more information on Outrun the Sun, Inc.

Again thank you so much for your consideration and support of Team Bungard.

http://raceagainstmelanoma.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1001719&lis=1&kntae1001719=6F3BC1DE154A488BB257DDB595F282E3&supId=

Pressing Onward

I have done something that I thought would be impossible!!! I have survived an entire year without someone who was an important to me as life itself. One has to make a conscious effort to decide to move on with their life. It's very tough to put aside the last year and move forward. I will admit that the memories of the last year still sting but they are getting better. It's becoming a little easier to handle the challenges and the things that continue to slap me in the face. It's going to be that way for a long time and it's just the way it is. It's all a learning process and there is always something new to learn. I know Randy's been watching over me and giving me a pat on the back numerous times. I think he would be proud of us all as we set aside our questions of why and keep moving

toward the ultimate goal.

Now, one year later I've come to the conclusion that it's time to think about starting over. Reality has begun to set in. I go back to the saying about the 3'C's of Life.

"Choices - Chances - Changes"

"You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change".

So many times I have wondered why God would allow this to happen to my family. I can't imagine that there is something better out there than what I had but apparently there is. I would really like the plan laid out in front of me. I keep praying for that to happen but I know it's not going to. Patience is a virture - and I've learned that over and over in the last 16 months.

My life has forever changed. The dynamics of my entire family has changed. My kids and grandkids have had to find a new balance as well. But I have so many blessings and things to be thankful for. It's amazing how a tragedy can change the rest of your life. Losing Randy has definetly changed me. I'm not the same person I used to be. I look at everything differently now. Things that used to have value or deep meaning no longer do. Things are just things. Stuff is just stuff. Life takes on a whole new meaning. Are there still tears? Yes!! Is it still difficult to talk about? Yes!! Do I try to make today better than yesterday? Yes!! I take alot of deep breaths and keep my feet going in the forward motion. I try not to go backwards. I'ts a proven fact that it gets me nowhere fast!

They always say time is a great healer. I have had some moments where I just wanted to give up and that's when you really have to have some face time with God. Out of my pain, God became a living reality to me as never before. I had to learn to give it to him. I had to learn to let go and let God. I've learned to give more. Give more to God - give more to my family, give more to my friends. It's an effort that I have to put forth by sharing my thoughts an feelings and that allows a little more healing to take place. A little at a time, day by day for as long as it takes. As I begin to rebuild my life that does not mean that I will forget or abandon Randy - he will always have a cherish place in my heart. I have given myself permission to live again. Living again affirms what he and I talked about while he was still on this earth. He would want me to find happiness and he would want nothing but the best for me. I won't run from my memories. I will recognize, accept and express them. I cherish everyone of them. He will always be someone very special to me whether the memories make me laugh or cry I will always have them as a conncection to him. They will keep me close to him.

 He remains in my heart wherever I go.

Death changes us, the living.  In the presence of death, we become more aware of life....It can inspire us to decide what really matters in life...and then to seek it. 

Christmas -- 2011   Another first for my family. The Holidays without Randy.  We all escaped the traditionalism here at home and escaped to the warmth of Siesta Key, FL.   We flew non stop into Sarasota and within an hour we were  unpacked and on the warm sunny sandy beach and it was wonderful! 

This was our house.  It had 4 floors - fully furnished with everything you can imagine.  From the garage to the King Suite which was on the fourth floor was 51 steps.  It did have an elevator which was accessible from each floor so if you didn't want to do the steps you didn't have to.  But you know me - I always took the steps several times a day.  It fit us all very nicely.  Plenty of room for all the kids to do whatever they wanted.



Our Beach Shot.  Weather was warm and wonderful.  Water was a little chilly - but the kids adapted to the water temp very quickly.  It took awhile for your feet to warm up and then it wasn't so bad to stand out there in it.  The kids wanted to bring back a million shells.  But we had a weight limit on our luggage since we were flying.  :)  

We had a coolish day - we went to Casperson Beach to look for Sharks teeth. There are some serious shark teeth search teams there.   We didn't find any - but we did find this very nice lady who enjoyed all of our children.  They made a sand castle and various other things with her.  When we got ready to leave the girls gave her a hug and she melted. 



We visited the Nikomas Orange Grove and had some delicious orange ice cream - which was really enjoyed by everyone. We bought some of their fresh squeezed orange juice.  You haven't lived until you have some.  It was out of this world.  We found plenty to keep us busy in the area we were in.  Great restaurants, shopping and just some good times together.  My son keeps asking if this is a tradition now.  The verdict is still out on that one.  He gets credit for trying though.

The girls - talking about their next move.  They loved the water. They really enjoyed having several days to spend together. Little man loved the sand more than the water.

Little True baby had a great time as well.  We found his mouth coated with sand more times than we could shake a stick at.  He got to where he loved running into the water and back out. 







We left a little Hoosier Legacy at Siesta Key. 

Most people would smile because they knew exactly what we were dealing with here.

The Sunset - My favorite part of the days.  They brought back memories of better days for me. They gave me a chance to reflect on what I need to do to make the way for improvements in my life so I may be given the chance to see what God has in store for me.  I can't imagine it will be better than what I had with Randy- but I have to trust him that he knows what's best for me and be open to the opportunities that may get put in my path.  I may not of lost a limb but I will always walk with a limp with the journey I have dealt with and continue to overcome.   



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